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U of A students F.E.D.U.P with sexism in food industry 6
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Oliver Apt. constructs carpentry collective Jon Zilinski
arts & culture staff Located right off Jasper Avenue, down a few flights of staircases and a maze of hallways is a small but passionate workshop — Oliver Apt., an urban woodworking company redefining spaces in the Edmonton community with elaborate handcrafted pieces. Founder Landon Schedler, is a carpenter with a community vision. He created Oliver Apt. with the intent to beautify small apartment spaces with simple, elegant furnishing. Their work varies from commissioned pieces for Edmonton restaurants to a selection of artisan furniture that can be purchased on-site. For Schedler, his fascination with craftsmanship began after his career in carpentry wasn't fulfilling his creative side. “After feeling the accomplishment and the pride of standing back from something I built — I was sold. I was captivated to keep building,” Schedler says. He's come a long way since starting, but for a vision to be fulfilled, the artist must first be noticed. For Schedler, much of his fanfare started with the carpentry work that Oliver Apt. did for Edmonton's Duchess Bakery on 124 Street. They created most of the interior, from the ceiling details, to posts and pillars to the shelving from start to finish. “Duchess was an elaborate, hands-on project," Schedler reminisces. "With Duchess … it was like ‘I’m your guy, I’m building out everything.’” It didn’t stop at Duchess for Schedler, who’s gone on to build quality pieces for other Edmonton hot spots such as Meat, Bar Bricco, Farrow and Woodwork. spencer nichols
PLEASE SEE oliver apt PAGE 16
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As you may have heard, school is almost over! WE ASKED...
What’s something everyone should do before they graduate? Colin Cline Science III “This is so difficult. I’ve only been here for a year, so I will say, run across Quad for a class.”
Anne Billingsey Arts I “I’d say participate more in the activities … There’s that winter one. I don’t know what it’s called. Or clubs. They’re a ton of fun.”
Meagan Henkelman Science III “Enjoy every minute of it. At times, I kind of regret not doing more in my degree, so I think any university student should take advantage of it.”
Kobe Amoh Science II “I dunno, try a Tombstone Donair, I guess? Yeah, a Tombstone Donair.”
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News Editor Richard Catangay-Liew Phone 780.492.7308
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Faculty of Phys Ed unveils Alberta Bear at PAW Centre Richard Catangay-Liew News editor @Richardcliew
Students walking past the Physical Activity and Wellness (PAW) Centre’s glass windows may recognize the silhouette of the familiar Beartracks bear, now in life-sized statue form. The Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation unveiled the Alberta Bear, a bronze 1,100-pound 3D rendition of the Beartracks bear on March 20 to commemorate the grand opening of the 17,000-square-metre facility, the faculty’s 50th anniversary and a $10 million donation from Board of Governors Vice-Chair Dick Wilson. Dean of the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation Kerry Mummery said the “iconic” Alberta Bear is symbolic of the University of Alberta, the Golden Bears and Pandas varsity teams and is “everything Alberta.” “We think it’s prominent to put a piece of public art out there with such great symbolism of strength, pride and university heritage,” Mummery said at the unveiling of the university’s new grizzly statue. Wildlife sculptor Cathryn Jenkins was tasked by the U of A and Mummery to sculpt a rugged 3D bear that reflected the university’s and province’s heritage of mountains and prairies. Jenkins, who has been sculpting professionally with serpentine stone and clay for more than 40 years, utilized her “signature style” of “smooth line-form” sculpting, which focuses on roundness and smoothness of her pieces as opposed to detailed modeling. Seeing the Alberta Bear “standing
guard” at one of campus’ busiest corners for the first time last Friday was “incredible,” she said. “I just wanted to carry out that feeling of the bear … it’s a big, beautiful powerful animal,” Jenkins said of the beast. “I wanted something that was easily recognizable, but not so detailed that there was too much to explore in the piece.” The unveiling of the Alberta Bear marks the final phase of the PAW Centre’s construction, which began after its concept was approved with
a student referendum in March 2010. The PAW Centre’s cost is estimated at $58 million, with $30 million supplied by a non-instructional student levy of $29 in fall and winter terms and $14.50 in spring and summer terms. Students will pay the levy for 20 years, which began in the 2014–15 academic year. The PAW Centre’s Social Street, or main concourse, opened in September 2014, the 2,554-squaremetre Hanson Fitness and Lifestyle Centre opened in November 2014,
and the 780-square-metre Wilson Climbing Centre opened in January this year. With their $10 million donation, the Wilson Climbing Centre is named after Dick Wilson and his wife Carol, while the Hanson Fitness and Lifestyle Centre was named after Dick’s father. “We feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to help students for years to come … giving back to support others is the right thing to do,” Dick said in the official
announcement. Students’ Union President William Lau, who said he’s halted regular physical activity ever since he stepped into office in 2013 as SU Vice-President (Student Life), said he hopes the grand opening of the PAW Centre ensures that student life extends beyond the classroom.
“We think it’s prominent to put a piece of public art out there with such great symbolism of strength, pride and university heritage.” Kerry Mummery
Dean, Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation
Ferocious figurine The Alberta Bear marked the grand opening of the U of A’s PAW Centre.
Christina Varvis
“Sometimes the demand from schoolwork can cause us to overlook our own mental and physical health,” Lau said. “It’s time to get back into shape.” Mummery agreed with Lau. He added that the faculty is working on a twin-pad arena at South Campus and an inflateable dome for Foote Field. As a “fitness and recreation kind-of-guy,” Mummery said, “if they build it, (students) will come.” “I hope (the PAW Centre) is lifechanging for students,” he said. “University is more than just studying. It’s going to be the people you meet, the activities you’re going to do. “I think (the PAW Centre) will leave a lasting legacy for years to come.”
New diploma exam weight could affect enrolment at U of A Mitchell Sorenson
news staff @Sonofamitchh Though the Government of Alberta’s announcement of reduced diploma exam weight from 50 per cent to 30 per cent may come as a relief for high school students, Elizabeth Corrigan feels she’s missed out. “I think it’s unfair,” Corrigan, a first-year Kinesiology student, said. “If (current high school students) don’t do so well on the diploma, it’s not going to impact them as drastically as me.” Corrigan’s social studies diploma mark reduced her aggregate course mark by nearly 20 per cent, and put her overall average just two per cent below the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation minimum requirements. After spending a year at MacEwan University upgrading, she successfully transferred to the U of A for the 2014 fall semester. Corrigan’s story is one of many at the university, as some students spend years and thousands of dollars upgrading due to poor diploma exam marks. U of A Deputy Registrar Melissa Padfield said it is currently unclear how the change will be implemented by the Office of the Registrar, as the first crop of students to see the new diploma exam weighting will have their marks back in December. “We’vebeenconsultingwithAlberta
Education for about 18 months on this,” Padfield said. “Now we’re going to do a systematic analysis now to see what, if any impact, this will have on grades of incoming students.”
“Our curriculum in Alberta is quite rigorous, and I think that this gives the resepct that the classroom work is due.” jyoti mangat
principal, bellrose composite high school
Alberta Education said they hope the changes increase graduation rates, decrease dropout rates and increase eligibility for scholarships. But the functional changes for university admissions remain uncertain, Padfield said. “It’s too early for us to even say whether or not this will have an impact,” she said. “There’s always going to be a lot of speculation, but we’ve got to deal with what actually is going to happen. “There is no discussion about changing the way we do admissions. We only admit based on high school grades, and that is how we gauge student preparedness.” The grade students use to apply to post-secondary will be the same grade on the statement of results
distributed by Alberta Education. Jyoti Mangat, principal at Bellerose Composite High School in St. Albert, said this change could have a positive impact on her students. The benefits for high school students in Alberta could be significant, Mangat added. “Our curriculum in Alberta is quite rigorous, and I think that this gives the respect that the classroom work is due,” she said. “A reduction to a 30 per cent (diploma) exam can potentially really help with anxiety, which may help improve student performance by alleviating some of the worry and fear that kids have about the impact which one exam will have on their futures.” Mangat said the current economic uncertainty in the oil and gas sector along with the exam weight change could make high school completion more palatable for some students, and would give them fewer reasons to drop out. Which of these factors may be responsible for any changes however, remains to be seen. For now, many of Mangat’s and student questions remain pending, as the first round of newly weighted diploma marks will require further evaluation when students enrol at post-secondary institutions. “My biggest concern right now is that no post-secondary institution has responded to it other than ‘wait and see,’” Mangat said.
WEight Loss The AB government changed the weight of diploma exams.
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Arts dean Lesley Cormack reappointed for five-year term Richard Catangay-Liew News editor @Richardcliew
Lesley Cormack always thought she was going to be an actress. She grew up in a “theatre family,” and launched her prospective acting career at the University of Alberta in 1975 in the Bachelor of Fine Arts Acting program. She performed in the rock musical Spring Awakening and was cast as the female lead, Mrs. Smith, in the French play, The Bald Soprano. Cormack then transferred to the University of Calgary in 1976 to finish her Bachelor of Arts — but with a major in history. She wasn’t cast as a lead actress anymore, a “black sheep” in a family that expected everyone to delve into theatrical careers. It was clear to Cormack that English history was a critical component of her parents’ heritage, who were first-generation Canadians, and of her grandparents, who migrated from the United Kingdom. The importance of English history to her family enticed Cormack to pursue the arts, but in a completely different direction from acting. After Cormack completed her undergraduate degree in Calgary, she relocated to the University of Toronto to complete an MA and PhD in history and philosophy of science and technology. Cormack then moved back to Edmonton, where she taught at the U of A for 17 years, while serving as associate chair, then chair of the Department of History and Classics. While performing administrative duties as department chair from 2003 to 2007, the thought of serving as the U of A’s Dean of Faculty of Arts crossed Cormack’s
mind. “It probably did make sense when I was serving,” Cormack said, recalling her tenure as professor at the U of A. “Being dean is a position that allows you to learn about all that’s going on in the faculty. Try and make strategic decisions about how you can support things that are really important and students are interested in.
“Being dean is a position that allows you to learn about all that’s going on in the faculty.” Lesley Cormack
Dean of the Faculty of Arts
“It’s an exciting opportunity.” Cormack will have that opportunity again, as she was reappointed by the U of A’s Board of Governors for a second five-year term as Dean of the Faculty of Arts on March 16. Cormack has served as Dean of the Faculty of Arts since 2010. She said her proudest moments while serving as dean include launching the Arts Work Experience Program, which develops the suite of experiential learning for the Bachelor of Arts, and increasing the size and enrolment of the Community Service Learning program. She also highlighted the eHUB entrepreneurial student network in partnership with the Faculty of Business, as half of eHUB participants have an arts background. But what really stands out to Cormack in her five-year term has been the university community, she said. “I have so enjoyed getting to know the faculty, staff and
students,” Cormack said. “We have an amazing group of people and they work so hard and they are so dedicated to the work they’re doing. It’s been a pleasure.” U of A Interim Provost and VicePresident (Academic) Olive Yonge said Cormack’s leadership has strengthened the faculty in the last five years. “Cormack has guided the Faculty of Arts through a great deal of change and has been an articulate and respected voice for the faculty,” Yonge said. Cormack said she looks forward to the changes she can commandeer throughout her next term. She said she hopes to ramp up the Arts Work Experience Program and transform it into a BA co-op, which students could receive on their transcript as an accredited program. Needs of graduate programs in the Faculty of Arts and new research clusters are also on Cormack’s agenda when she steps back into office next year. And although she’s spent 22 years of her professional career at the U of A, Cormack said she feels like she’s “just getting started.” “Arts is so relevant and important to the problems of society … we can do great things in the community,” Cormack said, looking ahead to her new five-year term. “We already are, but I really look forward to taking that next step when I get back.” Cormack’s reappointment begins July 1, 2016 after she completes an earned one-year administrative leave, which runs from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016. Vice-Dean of the Faculty of Arts Lisa Gotell will serve as interim dean while Cormack is on leave.
Education Extension The Faculty of Arts will welcome back Lesley Cormack.
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HOW ARE MARTHA AND HENRY’S KIDS DOING THESE DAYS? Decades ago, former Premier Ralph Klein introduced us to Martha and Henry - the average Albertan couple. How are their kids doing? The kids are worried. Not just about dignity for their parents, but also the lack of schools and affordable child care spaces. You can count on the Alberta Liberal Opposition to ask the tough questions. Let us know how you are doing. Phone 780.427.2292, through our website at www.liberalopposition.com, or e-mail liberal.correspondence@assembly.ab.ca.
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Volume 105, Issue 30
exceeding expectations Meet “Steve,” the U of A’s EcoCar.
Christina varvis
EcoCar engineers to defend title at Shell Eco-Marathon Americas Richard Catangay-Liew News Editor @Richardcliew
Balasz Gyenes was “overjoyed” when he motored the University of Alberta’s hydrogen fuel cell EcoCar to victory at the Shell Eco-Marathon Americas last year. “Steve,” the U of A’s student-designed, single seat, one-Kilowatt hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, tore through the Indy-like street track at 35 km/h en route to being declared 2014’s champion in the UrbanConcept FuelCell category.
“Every year we try to improve a little bit, and that’s kind of where we are right now.” Balasz Gyenes
Manager, ecocar team
Project lead Gyenes, who has been involved with the EcoCar project since 2011, his team of 20 engineering students and their EcoCar will have that opportunity once more, as they travel to Detroit, MI to defend their title on April 9. But with so many variables in the hydrogen fuel cell category, Gyenes said he “can’t really hope for a win.” “You have to just try and do as well as you can and improve from where you were last year,” Gyenes
said, looking forward to this year’s competition. “But we will learn a lot, win or lose. Every year we try to improve a little bit, and that’s kind of where we are right now.” While Gyenes and his team were waiting for the EcoCar’s Indy-like run last year, no hydrogen fuelcell competitor completed the required 10 laps. There were far too many variables that were out of the team’s control such as weather and track conditions, which “terrified” Gyenes. So when the EcoCar finished 10 laps en route to a win, he couldn’t describe his relief. To improve on last year’s firstplace finish, the EcoCar’s power train has been revamped entirely with a new one-kilowatt Horizon hydrogen fuel cell and a new Ballard engine controller, built entirely from scratch. Last year’s motor system is largely intact, so Gyenes and the EcoCar team had to interface the new fuel cell with the old system to ensure the car emits zero emissions while converting hydrogen into water at the most efficient rate possible. As project manager, Gyenes had little input on the design and structure of “Steve,” which as an engineering student, disappointed him. His role the last two years involved recruitment, team organizing, praying that the EcoCar arrives at the track in one piece, and when it does, praying that it it won’t fall
apart while on the track. But with graduation looming, Gyenes said he hopes to use the experiences and knowledge he’s learned with the EcoCar team when he moves on into the electric automobile industry. “(EcoCar) was just so fundamental to my experience at school,” Gyenes said. “I’ve been on this team the entire time I’ve been here. I’ve learned so much more doing this than in class.” After graduating in the winter term, Gyenes will be moving to Germany with his girlfriend, Roberta Hunt, who he met on the EcoCar team a year and a half ago. He’s spoken with representatives from German automobile manufacturers Mercedes-Benz and BMW with hopes of eventually being employed in their electric car divisions. While Gyenes is moving on from the EcoCar after this year, he said he looks forward to seeing the project further develop as a vehicle, and as a team despite being overseas. “I think it’s rewarding just to see someone change and grow in their many years on the team,” he said. “It’s been really cool watching them develop and watching everyone come together when they need it. That’s the experience as a manager where you don’t know where your work has paid off until the very end.”
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keeping tabs on discrimination Women’s Studies students want to put a stop to sexism in the serving industry. the
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U of A students F.E.D.U.P. with sexism and discrimination in food industry Richard Catangay-Liew News editor @Richardcliew
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If a restaurant requires “sexualized and objectified servers” to sell food, maybe the food isn’t that good, four University of Alberta students say. Kira Buro, Skylar Niehaus and Tempo Sabatier have served up F.E.D.U.P. YEG (or Feminist Eatery Database — Undercover Project), an online platform that highlights stereotypes and issues regarding sex, race and gender in the food service industry. The fourth member of the group has asked to remain anonymous, as she works in the industry. The project started in their Introduction to Women’s Studies class, where professor Cristina Stasia encouraged students to start a social media intervention to analyze social change as opposed to the traditional academic approach of writing a paper. The topic of sexism and discrimination in the workplace, specifically regarding management, was being discussed in one of Stasia’s classes, where classmates shared their “horrific work situations.” That conversation of seemingly normalized discriminatory behaviour in the food industry led to the creation of F.E.D.U.P. YEG. “We’ve noticed how a lot of it has gone unnoticed,” Buro said of the discrimination in the service industry. “It’s very typical for say, a dress code to be standard. We’re not against dress codes … (but) when it comes to forcing it on your employees, it’s kind of aggressive.” F.E.D.U.P. YEG encourages servers and customers to share their anonymous testimonials and sexist encounters in the serving industry and voluntarily fill out an interactive checklist survey to review restaurants. The survey asks questions
such as if the establishment has gender-neutral bathrooms, how diverse the staff is — in the lounge or bar area especially — and if there is a noticeable gender bias in the dress code. The surveys are tabulated, and “recommended” restaurants that receive “overwhelmingly positive” reviews are emphasized, along with restaurants that receive negative reviews.
“A server’s job isn’t to look good — it’s to serve food.” Kira Buro
F.e.d.u.p YEG
Issues regarding the dress code, the social stigma that servers have to “look good” and the managerial and corporation’s assumption that “sex sells” are the most common types of submissions, Buro said. One testimonial recalled how an interviewee wasn’t considered because she wouldn’t comply with the employer’s dress code. “The interviewer looked at me and one of the first things he said was, ‘Every server here is required to work our yearly golf tournament and the required uniform for it is a bikini. Would you wear that?’ I wouldn’t and since it was a requirement of the server job the interview was ended,” the testimonial read. Another testimonial acknowledged that “cute girls in short dresses” and “sex appeal” sells, but vented on how she was treated one night by a manger while working as the bartender. “The manager comes over to me at the start of my shift and tells me to ‘hike up my shirt, pull my v-neck top down a little and apply a bit more make up … this will help you
get more tips.’ I looked at him in disbelief! Did he really just say that to me! I never returned to work the next day.” Buro said the blog gives servers a platform to share “behind the scene” and “off the book” stories those not in the industry might not know about. “There’s a lot of stuff … being publicly shamed or harassed for not wearing makeup,” Buro said. “It creates an uncomfortable and negative environment for employees to be constantly worried about their appearance. “The job of a server isn’t to look really great — it’s to serve food.” Some might argue, “no one forces people into a working a serving job.” But that’s victim blaming, the girls say. Niehaus said the project hopes to change that perception. “Everybody accepts it, and I think people in the food industry, (people) feel a lot of pressure to look a certain way,” she said. “Companies use a specific look or culture and they take advantage of that.” Since the website’s debut last week, it has accumulated more than 26,000 web hits, with testimonials coming from outside the Edmonton area and from male servers as well. Although the semester is drawing to a close, the four girls have considered keeping the project and further developing it beyond the school year. But for now, Niehaus said F.E.D.U.P. YEG is keeping tabs on the serving industry and their “shady” practices. “People want to talk about it, but they’ve never been given the platform to talk,” Niehaus said. “We’re taking that hit for them, and it’s opened up a lot of conversation and that’s what our intention has been.”
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Tindergrrrls takes a swipe at online harassment Jamie Sarkonak
News staff @Swagonak With the invention of user-friendly dating apps such as Tinder, people are starting to take a more digital approach to finding relationships — but ease of access isn’t always for the better. University of Alberta students Michelle Schultz, Brittany Heddle and Brooke Andrews have noticed the increasing problem of harassment on Tinder. They’ve responded by starting an awareness campaign called Tindergrrrls. Tindergrrrls, stylized like the ‘90s feminist movement Riot Grrrl, is using social media to raise awareness about gender-based harassment on dating apps and gathering testimonials from women who have experienced abuse on Tinder. These cases aren’t hard to find — just search “harassment” and “Tinder” on Google to find countless screenshots of “matches” turned sour. But since they’re so normalized, they’re often overlooked as abuse, Heddle said. The trio chose to focus their project on Tinder because of its ever-increasing popularity since debuting on mobile phone app stores in 2012. While Tinder Inc. chooses not to reveal the number of downloads since then, its co-founder Sean Rad said
the app grew from making 1 million matches monthly to 50 million matches in 2013. The app’s appeal comes from its easy-to-use, playful interface — but according to the group, this can be problematic. “It’s a game mentality, but it’s not a game. It’s real life.” Heddle said. Tindergrrrls asks women to submit their experiences of abuse on Tinder, which remain anonymous. They are then tweeted on the campaign’s Twitter account along with articles about feminism and online harassment. The awareness campaign was started as a project for a Introduction to Women’s Studies, taught by lecturer Cristina Stasia. Stasia introduced the project to accommodate the growing use of social media in both everyday and academic life. “Many of our lives, especially my students’ lives, are lived through social media,” Stasia said. “It’s increasingly impossible not to use social media in this world. I wanted to equip students with the skills to be able to navigate it ... if you can teach your students complex gender theory, and then they can articulate that in a 140 character tweet, they really understand it and you’ve done your job.” While many exchanges on Tinder might not be toxic, harassment is still common. A 2006 study by
Swiping left on abuse U of A students are raising awareness about online abuse on dating apps. the University of Maryland found female usernames in online chat rooms received about 100 sexually explicit or threatening messages daily. Masculine names received only four. Additionally, a volunteer organization called Working to Halt Online Abuse has reported that in over 4,000 cases between 2,000 and 2013, 70 per cent of victims were female. “Those comments have consequences ... having all that backlash
coming back at (the victim) just because they’re not ‘DTF’… that’s abuse,” Schultz said. This backlash often goes by without much intervention from the app, with the worst punishment for abuse being a temporary ban. Schultz said she would like to see stronger repercussions put in place for Tinder users who are being abusive. Tindergrrrls has reached almost 500 followers on Twitter in a little
Christina varvis
more than a month. Heddle said raising awareness is important because it gives women background information about Tinder and skills to navigate its harmful situations and empowering them with how do deal with it. “I think it’s one step at a time,” Heddle said. “Starting with the root problem with educating people. I would like to see women more empowered and standing up for themselves and working together.”
Engineers host CO2 drag race in WEM Kate McInnes
News Staff @Katemcguineapig Drag racing and junior high students sounds like a bad mix, until you factor in engineering, science and an innovative university program. The CO2 Powered Drag Races — which took place on March 20 in West Edmonton Mall (WEM) — is an annual competition organized by the University of Alberta’s DiscoverE program aimed to engage junior high school students in hands-on learning through real-world challenges. The competition partnered with career and technology studies (CTS) courses offered through Edmonton Public and Edmonton Catholic Schools, and provided an environment for students to demonstrate their skills and build their knowledge about engineering and science. The CO2 Powered Drag Races began in 2008 in celebration of National Engineering and Geosciences Month. According to DiscoverE Director and Outreach Coordinator Alissa Boyle, the event has grown since its inception and is well-received by participants, their families and the public. “(The students) are very excited to see their cars race down the track and you can feel the anticipation grow as we get further and further into the competition,” Boyle said.
“While the students racing their cars have phenomenal reactions, it’s also amazing to see the number of (WEM) patrons who will stop by and comment on the fact that they, now adults, still remember when they got to race their first CO2 cars.” Students build their cars over the course of the school year and must adhere to strict regulations concerning car weight, dimensions and material. The competition gives students the chance to participate in one of three categories: sprint, muscle and show. An open category is also available for university staff and junior high school teachers. This year, first-place winners in the sprint and muscle categories won a trophy, a medal, a team set of hoodies, a tour of the U of A, a DiscoverE workshop and a pizza party. First and second place show category winners, as well as second place sprint and muscle winners, were awarded medals. In addition to the races, several U of A engineering undergraduate student groups were on site to engage participants in events that sought to educate and motivate. This year, the Department of Mechanical Engineering’s Formula SAE (FSAE) race car team and students from the Autonomous Robotic Vehicle Project (ARVP) shared their passion for engineering with the crowd by curating demonstrations.
“For the last few years, the team has been happy to display our work at the DiscoverE CO2 races,” the FSAE team said on their website. “It’s such a great chance to meet many bright, young minds and get them excited about science and engineering.” DiscoverE is a student initiative offered by the Faculty of Engineering that delivers classroom workshops, events and summer camps to over 26,000 youth annually. In addition to the CO2 races, DiscoverE offers a number of interactive programs, including Coding for Kids and Aboriginal Outreach. Boyle said she believes outreach programs help reiterate that many memorable learning experiences happen outside the classroom, and noted that experiences like the CO2 Powered Drag Races are specifically designed to supplement in-school learning and support youth to become innovators. “DiscoverE empowers youth to explore, adventure and discover in an environment which encourages creativity,” Boyle said. “Failure is seen as a necessary positive step in the learning process. “Outreach is a necessity for the university, for Edmonton (and) for the global community, because outreach strives to educate and empower youth — two key ingredients for a recipe to success.”
Engineering expo Junior high students raced their CO2 cars at West Edmonton Mall last Friday.
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kicking hunger The Food Bank hosted the Power Play Cup last weekend.
Jason timmons
Futsal for the Food Bank Jason Timmons
news staff @journophobic The University of Alberta’s Campus Food Bank got a kick out of fundraising last weekend, as they held their ninth annual Power Play Cup over the weekend. Campus Food Bank packed the Butterdome for an entire day of futsal fundraising, with proceeds from the tournament benefited the Campus Food Bank’s 2,300 clients to purchase non-perishables, perisHables and toiletries. Futsal is a variant of traditional soccer played with only five players per side. While futsal can be played either inside or outside, temperamental Edmonton weather has caused this event to be permanently held indoors. Power Play Cup organizer Sophia Tsirigotis said this year’s turnout was a pleasant surprise compared to previous years. “We don’t usually have (16 teams), we usually get 15 at the most. It turned out really well this year,” she said.
This year’s Power Play Cup was made possible by a $2,500 donation from sponsor EllisDon Construction, which covered the cost of the Butterdome rental, T-shirts for the players and prizes for the winners. All of the money raised is by donation, ranging from $250 team registration fees to minor donations from various other sponsors. The event was open to students and non-students alike, with registration open for anyone who wanted to come out and play futsal for the benefit of the Campus Food Bank. Participant Ryan Smith, who isn’t affiliated with the U of A, mentioned the positive aspects of playing in the Power Play Cup. The excitement and positivity from both players and organizers was tangible, and everyone present was happy to be contributing to the cause, as well as to have the opportunity to show off their futsal skills, Smith said. “It’s nice to be really helpful, as opposed to just playing soccer for fun,” he said. “Having a charity event attached to it really makes it more enjoyable.”
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opinion 9
Volume 105, Issue 30
Opinion
Opinion Editor Andrew Jeffrey Phone 780.492.6661
Email opinion@gateway.ualberta.ca Twitter @ Shandilliahosen
Volunteer Hey volunteers, come by 3-04 SUB every Wednesday at 3 p.m.!
editorial comment
Safe injection clinics no disrespect to communities THIS WEEK, THE HARPER GOVERNMENT SHOWED CANADIANS they’re serious about “respecting communities,” but not quite as serious about respecting the health of every Canadian living in those neighbourhoods. Earlier this week, the House of Commons passed Bill C-2, known as the Respect for Communities Act, a piece of legislation that will add more red tape and bureaucratic hurdles to the implementation of new supervised injection clinics in Canada. Putting these restrictions in place, and the Conservative Party’s continued opposition to these clinics, flies in the face of numerous studies and research supporting its existence. Unfortunately, this bill is just another example of the Harper Government ignoring scientific research and prioritizing its traditional values and ideology over the health and well-being of Canadians. InSite, a safe injection site already operating in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside neighbourhood, has been an easy target for its critics. After all, a safe injection clinic provides a space for drug use and clean needles, but also for addiction treatment, mental health counselling and immediate first aid, if necessary. Despite the treatment available, its use is prime fodder to be twisted into an unfair narrative of state-sponsored drug enabling. But these clinics don’t supply drug users with their fix. Rather, it gives them a safe place where overdoses and addiction can be treated right away. The availability of these clinics should expand across the country as a positive harm reduction tool for those in need. Instead, Bill C-2 puts that expansion in jeopardy. This comes after the Supreme Court of Canada unanimously ruled in 2011 to grant InSite an exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act to allow drug possession on its premises, would be a violation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. So it’s unlikely InSite itself will shut down anytime soon. But new services will need to go through the added steps of providing 27 pieces of information to the federal Minister of Health, including letters from provincial cabinet ministers and criminal background checks for everyone working at a potential clinic. It’s still possible for new safe injection clinics to set up, but it’s now a more cumbersome and lengthy task to do so. For Canadians who could use the service to prevent an overdose from happening when they’re alone and far from any medical treatment, prolonging their prevention from using one of these sites could mean the difference between life and death. The Harper Government is supporting this bill to continue to show Canadians it always takes a tough-on-crime stance and a strict anti-drug policy, even when that stance is also against a potentially vital health service for some citizens. The Conservative Party is looking at this issue from a public safety perspective, imagining that the implementation of this clinic will enable or normalize drug use in a community. But conservative politicians should place greater emphasis on the health benefits of these clinics. If a space like InSite needs to be implemented, it’s likely the neighbourhoods they’re situated in are already rife with drug use, just like Vancouver’s DTES. Bill C-2 is just another unfortunate example of the Harper Government ignoring research already conducted on an issue that contradicts its conservative values. InSite has successfully saved lives, reduced needle-sharing and even, ironically, made the DTES look a bit more respectful with less needles littering the ground. Scientific evidence supports the use of InSite and safe injection clinics like it, and so does the Supreme Court and the World Health Organization. But none of this is seemingly enough to persuade the Conservative Party from their hard stance against any even marginal consent to allow drug use. What point is there even for any sort of scientific or academic research to take place if it’s not going to be used to improve the way society is governed and the way we live? By ignoring the evidence in favour of InSite, the Conservative government tells Canadians that ideology trumps science. Until a damning, inarguable study of the ill effects of InSite on a community is published, there’s no reason to ignore its benefits and prevent its expansion. It’s commendable and expected to have an anti-drug, tough-oncrime government in some cases. But that should never extend to a government that’s tough-on-science and anti-drug user. Many Canadian citizens are grappling with drug addictions everyday, and placing these barriers between them and care will do nothing to help them or improve communities.
Andrew Jeffrey opinion editor
Jessica Hong
letters to the editor on a weekly basis.
from the web Sigma Pi has nothing to do with racist chapter of SAE (Re: “Public shaming of racist fraternity chants deserved,” by Oumar Salifou, March 18)
a year is delusional.
via web
RATT’s finances include opportunity cost? (Re: “The Dewey’s Debacle,” by Parker Ali, March 18)
If you’re going to make a statement about what happened at the OU SAE chapter (that has since been disbanded and banned from their campus, not to mention properly handled by the fraternity’s international headquarters), you ought to at least make the image attached to this article that of a fraternity house with the corresponding Greek letters. Sigma Pi has nothing to do with this, and so that image should be replaced.
I’m curious to know if the revenues/profits from RATT include the potential opportunity cost of not being able to charge rent to a tenant. An entire floor of the Students’ Union Building would seem like a pretty desirable location.
Shad
via web
Fahim’s platform is impressive Sara (Re: “Bite the Ballot: VP (Academic), “
via web
Dewey’s should take Steel Wheels’ business
(Re: “The Dewey’s Debacle,” by Parker Ali, March 18) From what I’ve been hearing, a substantial amount of people (international students) tend to go to Steel Wheels after Japanese/ Chinese Conversation Club meetings. That seems like a missed opportunity to me. If we would do something from keeping those demographics from going off campus to get sloshed every week, might bring in a bit more revenue
lol
Levi Flaman
by Kevin Schenk, March 4)
Fahim’s platform is more than just buzzwords. It’s over 50 comprehensive goals, with methods of achieving them
Charles Lewis via web
Fahim’s platform is a fantasy
(Re: “Bite the Ballot: VP (Academic), “ by Kevin Schenk, March 4) Anyone who thinks that they can achieve “50 comprehensive goals” in
via web
Coach Nelson much better than Eakins (Re: “Dallas Eakins and Todd Nelson through 31 games,” by Christian Pagnani, March 17) This is horrible do you watch the games? Nelson is infinitely better. He’s 6-4-2 with Hall in the lineup. Eakins had Hall the whole time. Perron was their highest goal scorer last year. You also forgot to mention that Petry has been gone for half the time Nelson’s been coach. Petry sad as it seems was our best defenceman. Eakins was an abomination of a coach.
Martin via web
Letters to the editor should be sent to letters@gateway.ualberta.ca The Gateway reserves the right to edit letters for length and clarity, and to refuse publication of any letter it deems racist, sexist, libellous, or otherwise hateful in nature. The Gateway also reserves the right to publish letters online. Letters to the editor should be no longer than 350 words, and should include the author’s name, program, year of study, and student ID number to be considered for publication. Send any letters in to the editor this week, and come up to The Gateway’s office to receive your grand prize. Potential prize options include high fives, compliments and fun times.
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March 25, 2015
Tinder’s use more nuanced in reality than its stereotype Josh Greschner
opinion staff
Despite its fiery logo, Tinder is not the devil. Myself, along with innumerable 20-somethings downloaded the Tinder app, intrigued by its stereotype. Some (probably men) fantasized that Tinder was some sort of digital brothel in which eager young sex nymphs would willingly meet up and imitate popular PornHub videos. It doesn’t quite work like that. Tinder is a fascinating cultural phenomenon. Most people using the app have low expectations, and ironic humour abounds. After having used Tinder for a couple months, I noticed some interesting patterns: in their pictures, women are hardly, if ever, scantily-clad, and they appear dressed causally or even semi-professionally. I largely didn’t see women who felt the need to sexually objectify themselves. Also, women are three times less likely to right swipe than men. Tinder is a victory for feminism because women hold substantial power when using the app. For the many people I rightswiped, I apparently wasn’t their glass of chardonnay, their shot of Fireball. But I did manage to match with interesting, attractive people with whom I shared similar interests. Most importantly, we only talked because on Tinder, two people can’t actually chat unless they match each other. Once
this happens, they both consent to converse. A few Women’s and Gender Studies students recently started a campaign to “raise awareness on the issues of online harassment” by targeting online dating sites, specifically Tinder. While I think their goals are noble, I think the students are confusing the Tinder stereotype with the actual practice.
Women are three times less likely to rightswipe than men. Tinder is a victory for feminism because women hold substantial power when using the app. These students claim Tinder “lacks proper privacy policies leading to exploitation.” I completely disagree. Tinder allows users to reveal numerous or no photos, and to write nothing or up to a paragraph. Tinder’s privacy settings minimize unwanted comments and are better than many other dating sites. Tinder is also fundamentally different from random unwanted comments on the street, because once two people agree to match, it’s fair game to communicate. And everyone can unmatch people they’ve previously right-swiped. I’m not saying that once women right-swipe they consent to receive derogatory comments — I actually support these students when they seek “more serious consequences” for online aggressors making inappropriately lewd or threatening comments. But I don’t think Tinder justifiably
earns these students’ particular characterization. These students also claim Tinder “encourage(s) patriarchal behaviour” and that men and women “engage in these sites without an understanding that they… (perpetuate) rape culture.” I flipped through numerous male profiles and Tinder doesn’t seem to demonstrate male dominance so much as male incompetence. Again, women can prevent male entitlement with a left swipe. But a man must feel the impulse to write something when they manage to get a match. But what’s the difference between flirting and micro-aggression? It’s important to note that although Tinder certainly encourages traditional gender roles, accusing Tinder of patriarchy and rape culture are overstated because traditional gender roles don’t necessarily perpetuate patriarchy or rape culture. Tinder can actually be a space for discussion. Of course, harassment occurs and I don’t mean to diminish the severity of certain instances, but I maintain that harassment isn’t regular and that men are generally more urbane on Tinder than the app’s stereotype dictates. In their attempt to stop the stereotyping of women, these students mustn’t stereotype Tinder. These students also risk spewing feminist terms evangelically and dogmatically, replacing “fire” and “brimstone” with “patriarchy” and “rape culture,” and throwing them at anything that encourages traditional gender roles. Nevertheless, now that Tinder requires payment for unlimited swipes, the cold shower of capitalism will most likely extinguish its flame.
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Volume 105, Issue 30
Edmonton MP’s spy pen a ridiculous affront to privacy Nathan Fung
opinion staff Peter Goldring, Edmonton-East MP, doesn’t see how carrying a spy pen in his breast pocket at all times can be an issue. In light of his DUI trial back in 2011 that Goldring was found not guilty in, Goldring has taken it upon himself to be on the defensive against any more attempts at “besmirchment” and other efforts to assassinate his presumably good character. According to his recent interview with CBC (which includes lopsided POV shots from his spy pen), Goldring has plenty of good reasons for keeping his toy on him, as he’s beset by many enemies. Cops are conspiring against Goldring as he claims that the cop changed his story after he pulled over the MP, and unnamed political enemies within Goldring’s own party are plotting his downfall, presumably in some dimly lit parking lot. And who can forget his paranoid and outlandish statement last November, which he immediately retracted, in which he
screenshot —cbc news
suggested the allegations of sexual harassment in parliament only goes to show how honest guys like him are the ones who have to watch themselves by wearing body cameras, so to not end up on the wrong side of a sexual assault allegation. Yes, Goldring has plenty of reasons to watch his own back. And yes, he keeps that pen on himself at all times. Whether it be travelling through the airport, talk-
ing to constituents or even while running around Parliament Hill, it’s very possible that Goldring has it all on camera. He might tell you you’re being recorded or he might not. Best of all, he insists that it shouldn’t be an issue and that it’s just an ordinary recording device like a cellphone, therefore people shouldn’t find the possibility at all creepy that he might be recording them without their knowledge.
But people use cellphones for things other than taking pictures or videos. The same can’t be said of Goldring’s toy, unless you want to argue how it can be used as a writing tool. Recording with a phone is also much more obvious than recording with a spy pen. Journalists do often record conversations for articles too, but journalists don’t just record people 24/7 both on and off the job. And whenever someone
enters a store, there’s usually a sign indicating they’re on camera. If we are to take Goldring’s point seriously about how his spy pen is no different than a camera in a 7/11, then he is going to have to start wearing a ‘Smile! You’re on camera!’ sign. Goldring apparently lives in a world where people being recorded without their knowledge or consent is just a reality of life. He made a noteworthy statement last November after declining an interview with a Power & Politics producer. As CBC reports, “(Goldring) didn’t want to go on camera, but he told the producer ‘Do you want to talk about my consort-proof camera?’ and pointed to a pen in his breast pocket as if there was a camera there.” It’s pretty ironic that the producer had the courtesy to ask Goldring whether or not he wanted to do an interview, yet that same courtesy couldn’t be asked from him. Perhaps it’s best to conclude with a piece of advice Mr. Goldring gave in his interview: “if you’re concerned about a TV camera, then I think what you should do is be careful on what you say and what you do.” After all the goofy things he’s said and done in the public eye, it isn’t clear if he’s followed up on that advice himself.
Government ban of niqabs during citizenship doesn’t protect women’s rights Prachi Mishra
opinion writer In recent weeks, controversy has brewed over whether women should be allowed to wear the traditional niqab during their public citizenship oaths. The current Conservative government has stood staunchly against it, with moves to officially ban these coverings during the citizenship ceremonies through legislation. But the justification for the government’s public opposition is a flawed one for the sake of Canadian women who choose to wear a niqab. Prime Minister Stephen Harper claims the niqab is inherently rooted in a culture that’s “anti-women,” and he argues, in vague terms, that “most” Canadians oppose the wearing of face-coverings during these ceremonies. Others in his party voiced their support. Tory MP Larry Miller even went on to claim that
those who wear the niqab should “stay where the hell they came from.” Although Miller apologized for his words, the slip of his aggressive tongue tells us that while the Conservative party may be justifying this stance on the basis of women’s rights, their actions are in fact misogynistic. Instead of tackling issues relating to women, the Harper government has taken upon itself to attack women themselves. By placing a stigma on Muslim women who wear the niqab, the current Conservative figures further perpetuate the stereotype that Muslim women are suspicious, docile and oppressed by their sexist male counterparts. Oddly enough, even if this stereotype was the case, the solution the government provides is to further isolate these women by denying them their citizenship. It may seem acceptable to dictate the niqab as anti-women due to its concealing nature. But it is not on those who are not Muslim women to make that judgment. That is not to say that oppression in relation to the niqab doesn’t exist. In fact,
#3LF
women are forced into that attire everyday. However, we must remain cognizant of the Islamophobic influences in our society that may drive our judgements on the issue. The conversation surrounding Muslim women’s issues should be left to Muslim women themselves as opposed to others outside that circle. The Conservative government’s record on women’s rights is abysmal, considering their consistent disregard towards the high numbers of murdered and missing Aboriginal women, and the defunding of women’s centres and abortion clinics throughout the country. Yet in this case, the government cites “women’s rights” as a justification for such an extreme practice. Seemingly, the difference seems to be driven by xenophobic, and more specifically, Islamophobic agendas. Women’s rights are conveniently used to cry foul and used as a driving factor of such policies, without even consulting Muslim women on what they deem to be oppressive and how they seek to solve such issues. But when it comes to reproductive health, national childcare
supplied — Antoine taveneaux
programs, equal representation of women in parliament and the workplace, these women’s rights are ignored. Women’s rights only makes its way out of the woodwork when it
conveniently fits the conservative agenda. Otherwise, it remains on the back shelf as the Conservative government sits comfortably on the status quo, which includes the oppression of Canadian women.
three lines free
Got something that you need to get off your mind? Either email us at threelinesfree@gateway.ualberta.ca, tweet @threelinesfree, or message us at www.gtwy.ca/threelinesfree burlap zach. lulz RICHARD My answering machine told me to don a tiger mask and murder an entire police precinct with my bare hands... #justhotlinemiamithings If you don’t like catholic policy on homosexuality, don’t be catholic. This is not hard to figure out. Check out the Wellness Walk on campus! Fuck you asshole who broke in to Dino Lab, stole 8k in cameras, and broke a rare fossil. If we find out who you are we are setting the Velociraptors on you! They are not bound by any man-made laws.
shakiba is merely saving face. The CRO’s ruling clearly mentions she was potentially invovled in vote tampering and definitely her campaign team was Are you sure you read Fahim’s Olatform? Over 70 comprehensive points Remember when I dropped your cupcake...... picnic in ccis. Best way to a girls heart. What would you do if I poked you again? Beer and homework Thursday? Can that be a thing again Shakiba is amazing and deserves to
win! Can we tone down the political commentary in 3LF? I remember when it was all about the butts. Butts. Do you suffer from KIDNEY DISEASE? Do you know that, according to latest researches, DIALYSIS IS NOT NECESSARY? A friend of mine got off dialysis (stage 5 CKD) and healed his kidney. The smiling poop emoji summarizes my every emotion. Has technology gone too far? I like neither Pina Coladas nor getting caught in the rain. :( WOOHOO #dontstopfahiming
#fahimthedream #thirdtimesacharm #teamfahim NOTA is not a sign of apathy. It is a viable democratic option and is an expression of the will of the electorate. FAHIM THE DREAM RETURNS TRIUMPHANTLY #jennydeathnow I hate how the FLC PAW blasts music out of those shitty speakers!!! I’m trying to listen to my own music/ TV. bist du eifersüchtig, bin ich in die Zeitung I AM jealous, you’re right Nobody tamper with votes this time
around I can’t deal with seeing your faces anymore I bet Azimi regrets calling a re-vote now lol yaaaaa if the snow could just fuck off that’d be great I wonder how long it’ll take advertisers to start exploiting 3LF It’s already begun... Try all new Pepsi Next! I would like to apologize for last weeks drunkenness wtf is March Madness...... Anne of Green Gables was published 107 years ago. WE ARE PAST THE POINT OF SPOILERS.
opinion 12
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March 25, 2015
Homeopathic and pharmaceutical drugs not the same Hannah Madsen
opinion staff In most pharmacies, both homeopathic remedies and pharmaceutical drugs are placed side by side. This creates a misleading impression that both sets of treatments are comparable; they are not. The fact of the matter is that homeopathic remedies don’t have to undergo the strict testing that pharmaceutical drugs do, and should either be placed in their own sections of pharmacies or should be required to undergo clinical trials to demonstrate that they produce more than elaborate placebo effects. Most homeopathic medicines work on a principle of “like cures like,” meaning that they consist of a small amount of a substance (usually a mineral or herb) thought to pro-
the marble
p edestal
COMPILED BY Zach Popowich When I first heard of Five Days for the Homeless, an initiative founded by students from the U of A’s School of Business to raise awareness and donations for Youth Empowerment and Support Services (YESS), the first thing that came to mind were the fond memories of my Disneyesque childhood. During the carefree summers of my childhood, I loved setting up a tent in my back-
complete placebo. Health Canada approved the remedy and licensed it, giving the go-ahead for it to be produced and sold. In contrast, pharmaceutical drugs need to be tested for years and put through intense clinical trials to prove their effectiveness before they can be sold to the public.
There are definitely some homeopathic treatments that are bunk: two examples include a treatment that claims to have infused sugar with the light from Saturn and one that uses raccoon fur as its main ingredient. Some homeopathic remedies have degrees of success, but those
are few and far between because homeopathy as a movement has given rise to many pseudoscientific “cures” for various illnesses that do not work at all. This is evidenced by the assertions of doctors and official regulatory agencies that homeopathic remedies are not to be used in cases of serious conditions and diseases, such as those involving measles or asthma. Nevertheless, homeopathic remedies are placed next to legitimate pharmaceutical products on the shelf, effectively signalling to consumers that they’re both the same, even though homeopathic remedies don’t have to go through the same vetting processes and are regarded much differently than pharmaceuticals by the scientific community. Last week, CBC submitted a fake homeopathic remedy for fevers in young children to Health Canada. CBC’s only documentation comprised of a few pages photocopied from an old book on homeopathy, and the remedy was a
yard and pretending that I was roughing it for a couple hours each day. And that was the image I conjured up in my head when a friend first told me about Five Days for the Homeless, last year. After sitting down with Oliver Philipp of Five Days for the Homeless, I found that I couldn’t have been more wrong. “We’re not trying to mimic homelessness. Because as much as we try... We have families back home who are supportive, because the community is supportive. We know that we’ll be done at 5 (p.m.) today but (homeless people) don’t
know when they’ll be done or where the next meal might come from.” The Five Days people were upfront with the fact they’re not trying to mimic homelessness, and that they’re also well aware of misconceptions that some students and myself held for the event. Simply put, the cause is laudable. And despite my initial cynicism, I’ve come to see Five Days as a worthwhile event composed of genuinely involved students that want to give back. Too often I feel as if I’m more at ease with making snide remarks
than I am with holding something up. It’s easy to dive into an invective-fueled diatribe on the neo-fascist leanings of A&W’s breakfast timetable. It isn’t nearly as easy to look for ways to talk about a positive case without sounding like you’ve drank the kool-aid. Yet, in a case like this, I don’t think that drinking the Kool-Aid is such a bad thing. Without sounding like a shill, YESS is a worthy cause. By being dedicated to becoming a stabilizing influence for youth transitioning into adulthood, YESS drives at one of the many root causes
duce the symptom of an ailment. It’s then extremely diluted in a volume of water, so much so that no original molecules of the ingredient itself remain. It is for this reason that most opponents of homeopathy argue that homeopathic medicines work based on the placebo effect.
Homeopathy as a movement has given rise to many pseudoscientific “cures” for various illnesses that do not work at all
CBC submitted a fake homeopathic remedy for fevers in young children to Health Canada ... Health Canada approved the remedy and licensed it, giving the go-ahead for it to be produced and sold. The ways that these two types of medication are approached should not differ. There are many homeopathic remedies targeted at young
children nowadays, because Health Canada issued a statement in 2008 saying that over-the-counter treatments for coughs and colds should not be used for children under the age of six. The fact that CBC was able to get their treatment approved when there was no scientific basis for it is outrageous because this easy approval process leads parents to believe that such treatments will work and could prevent parents from consulting with health professionals in times of medical crisis. Homeopathic remedies should need to undergo the rigorous testing endured by pharmaceutical drugs, or they should be kept in separate locations in pharmacies with clear labels stating that they have not been tested in clinical trials and are not approved by the scientific community. Otherwise it’s far too easy for them to be marketed in a misleading way, and medical treatments are not something that we as consumers can afford to play around with. of homelessness. And that’s why YESS and Five Days deserves to be put on a marble pedestal, and why these services deserve U of A student support. Getting students involved when it doesn’t involve beer or free stuff can be a tough sell on this campus. Yet Five Days seems to have found lightning in a bottle here with growing volunteer participation that’s now channelled into giving back to the community.
The Marble Pedestal finds pretty cool things to praise and fills your day with positive vibes, ya dig?
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opinion 13
Volume 105, Issue 30
LAST LECTURE
RESULTS ARE IN
christina varvis
A few things to experience before you leave the University of Alberta Opinion Staff
group commentary Since we at The Gateway have about a combined 100 years of university experience (200 if you count Editor-inChief Andrea Ross), we’ve compiled some expert suggestions of unforgettable things to do before leaving this glorious institution — things upon which to reminisce while slowly dying in the asphyxiating slog of the modern, post-industrial workforce. Remember, you can always come back for Grad school.
Mitchell Sorensen Though getting hammered at Dewey’s and then vomiting up the Tombstone you ate for lunch can be exciting, you’re going to have to study at some point. Those of you who lock yourself away in the bowels of Cameron or tune out the world in HUB need to get out more often. Sit back, relax and be taken back to a simpler time. In short, you need to study in the Rutherford reading room. Modeled after a nearly identical hall in Stanford, the “Harry Potter Room” is a place where everyone should spend time. Whether it be half an hour or half a day, the aura in the room lets you sink into whatever it is you’re doing. Even the walk upstairs to the
the burlap
sack
COMPILED BY Parker Ali Spring is in the air, and the campus green spaces have been invaded by a lewd display of nature’s smut show. The furry inhabitants of our campus have been enjoying this season of love with excessive public displays of affection. With their lush coats transitioning from white to brown, the carrot-loving critters on campus have taken the phrase “fucking like rabbits” to an all too literal level. Squirrels have been prizing
second floor of Rutherford is an experience. Feeling the divots in the stairs where thousands of feet have walked before is an oddly satisfying feeling, like you’ve implicitly become a part of some exclusive club just by climbing them. Combine that with the original brass door fixtures, vaulted ceilings, chandeliers and more volumes on Canadian Parliamentary History than anyone could ever need, and you feel like you’re in the place where academia comes home to roost. It’s old, some parts are definitely decrepit, but spend an hour or two there. Study, watch Netflix, whatever it is you do in libraries, and just take in the scene. It’s oddly relaxing, somewhat comforting and definitely an experience you should have before your time at campus is up.
Andrew Jeffrey As simple as it might sound, a lot of students should do their best to appreciate everything available for them to do on campus before they graduate. A lot of students will simply come to school, go to class and then go home with barely anything else added to it while they’re here, and that’s their prerogative, there’s nothing wrong with that decision. You don’t need to join a student group or volunteer on campus if none of that appeals to you. What you should do at least, though, is spend a bit more time their nuts in these times of wildlife seduction. This spring fever has even spread to the skies above campus. Just today, I witnessed a magpie straight up shitting on people from its nest outside Tory lecture. Does the graceful wildlife of this campus have no shame? Have they not the decency to find a seedy motel, empty classroom, or burned-out school bus like the rest of us? The drama of daytime television continues to play out unchecked on the University’s sod rolls and mulch pits. There’s no doubt the lack of vehicles on campus have lulled these
around campus to see what it has to offer. Stick around one evening for an event or promotion a student group worked hard on to make your campus experience better. Play a game of dodgeball, go see campus sports or check out a movie in Dinwoodie Lounge. More than any of that though, I don’t think you can consider yourself a true U of A student if you haven’t found yourself studying on campus until the wee hours in the morning at least once, and begun to regret all of the decisions that led you to this point.
Zach Borutski There’s literally nothing better than affirming your own opinion through social media. Anyone who tells you differently is lying to themselves, and can find me on Twitter to argue about it (@Zachsprettycool). Therefore, the one thing every student should do at the U of A is debate with someone on Overhead/ UAlberta Confessions. What better way to show people you’re an intelligent and well-adjusted adult than by yelling at them through a computer about something that doesn’t really affect you? In addition to increasing your own selfesteem, you’ll be able to drastically decrease the self-esteem of others, which is a much more worthwhile pursuit than spending any time on your schoolwork anyways. In short, there are literally no drawbacks, so go out there and be as mean as possible. carnal creatures into a false sense of security where people are nonexistent bystanders. Some shaming of this behaviour may be in order, but my efforts were fruitless: loud gasps and tuts seem to only startle squirrels in heat and only elicit quizzical looks from mounted rabbits. That jackass magpie continued throwing shit too, so I’m actually inclined to just ride this out until this horniness blows over and little jackass magpie babies start stealing my hair again.
The Burlap Sack is a semi-regular feature where a group (or activity) who needs to be put in a sack and beaten is ridiculed in print.
Maraj Brian
Learning: A Moving Experience! “Dr. Maraj is the type of professor that can light up an entire lecture theatre with his charisma, enthusiasm, and passion.” — Student
Get your free tickets now: alumni.ualberta.ca/lastlecture Thursday, Apr. 9, 2015 | 7 p.m. CCIS Rm 1-430
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March 25, 2015
the gateway’s
music festival survival guide Written by Gateway Staff • layout by jessica hong
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ost of us at The Gateway can agree on one thing: there's no better way to waste away your summer days than chillin' at a music festival — what's better than basking in the sun with friends while listening to sick beats? With only a couple weeks left in the school year, read up on our first-hand tips before embarking on your next musical pilgrimage.
What to wear:
It's 2015. Do we still need to talk about cultural appropriation? Either way, don't do it. Using items of other cultures to stand out isn't trendy — it just makes you look like an asshole. Bindis and native headdresses are a no-go, unless you want to be publicly shamed on a Buzzfeed photo essay and suffer a guilty moral conscience. Don’t wear sandals unless you're just chilling at your tent. Instead, wear shoes that cover the top of your feet to avoid sunburn and to protect your toes from getting stomped on by dancing bros. Don’t go sleeveless unless you’re wearing a shit-ton of sunscreen (oh yeah, bring a shitton of sunscreen). And ladies, avoid wearing rompers, because they make peeing in a porta-potty really hard. And lastly, always bring something to protect yourself from rain, because you never know.
Drinking
If your festival is in the states, wait until you get there to buy alcohol because it’s way cheaper. And buy way more than you think you need. You'll probably find yourself downing a beer or two at 11 a.m. when there's nothing better to do before the acts start. We recommend bringing a box of wine (or five) and you can make sangria once you get there. So refreshing! But still, drinking at outdoor festivals is hard. Like, it’s easy to bring booze into a campground, because nobody cares, but having a hangover when it’s 36 degrees outside isn’t pretty. If you are one who wants to get white-girl wasted at a festival this summer, invest a lot of your food budget in water bottles and Gatorade.
Hygiene
Shower once every three days, and go during low-traffic times, like when people are starting to leave for shows. If you're going to a longer festival, you’ll probably have to miss something to shower at some point. Bringing along wet wipes will help make your showerless days less gross, and are handy to clean your hands with before eating and after using the nasty bathrooms. Deodorant: wear it. You’re going to be sweating in places that you didn’t know existed. Plus, don’t spend a lot of time in your tent if you don’t have to — you'll end up just making it smell like feet and B.O., sorry.
Make sure to eat. Some people straight-up forget to eat while at festivals, which is a really bad idea when you're dancing and sweating the hot summer days away. Nothing puts a damper on music-festival fun like low blood sugar. Keep your food simple. Don’t try to be a hero and buy a bunch of comfort food. Accept that you’re camping and the things you’re going to want at the end of an exhausting, drug-filled day are hot dogs, buns, peanut butter and chips. Pasta, steaks, eggs, George Foreman Grills, and other bourgeois stuff like that may seem cool, but it’s a pain in the ass. You don’t have to bring your own grill, but it's a good idea to at least befriend someone that brought one. If you want above-average food, you can buy it inside the grounds. They’ll probably have everything from chicken fingers, to Chinese food, to Vegan fare.
Doing drugs responsibly
Some of the older, more well-established festivals who have no illusions about why people are attending will have tents set up where you can test your drugs to make sure you’re taking what you paid for. If not, buy some beforehand from your friendly neighbourhood source to sneak in. Then you’ll be sure you know what you’re getting. That said, for the love of god, don’t try to smuggle drugs across the American border. It’s not going to happen and border patrol won’t accept “it’s legal in Washington” as a valid excuse. Many people try to do this each year and fail. Edibles are a lot easier to sneak into the festival itself than joints and baggies of pills. You’ll get a super chill high eating an edible, which is good (unless you eat too many, which is bad). Other than that, make sure you know your limits. A field full of strangers with 30+ degree weather is not where you want to be having your first bad trip. Stay hydrated and have some friends around for safety. Have a quiet place you can return to and make sure to have a sober friend around. With that being said, if your friend’s on drugs, don’t be an asshole. Don't ditch them in the middle of an alcoholic-infested wasteland with nobody to turn to. Take care of them, then never let them forget it when they're sober.
How to see your favourite band
You aren't going to see every band on the lineup. It's a nice goal, but you're going to get tired, hungover and hungry. Before getting to your festival, make a mental note of which bands you absolutely have to see, and plan accordingly. To get a good spot at your coveted show, arrive at the set before your favourite band. Either work your way into the crowd at the beginning or halfway through the set. As the crowd breaks up when the set ends, start moving to the front of the crowd — but don't be that loser that pushes everyone out of your way. To get a really good spot, you'll probably have to split up from your friends. Set a specific meeting point to reconvene at once the set's over.
Food
Don't go broke
Public ATMs have steep service fees, so take out lots of cash at your home branch before heading to the festival. Save the $3 and spend it in the beer gardens instead. If there’s still an opportunity to volunteer at your chosen festival — do it! They usually treat their volunteers really well, so this is a fun way to attend for free. You'll probably get some free food and merch out of volunteering, not to mention meeting some cool new friends, too.
Camping tips Bring a lamp. Obviously you’re going to bring a tent, sleeping bag, pillow, all that standard stuff, but there’s generally absolutely no lighting in these areas. If you don’t bring a pretty strong lamp, you’re going to have to rely on the strength of your phone’s backlight, which isn’t pretty. Flashlights are fine, but investing in a powerful lamp that can actually light up an area is better. Buy more tent stakes than you need and make sure your tent works before you leave home. Sleeping under the open sky without a functional tent may sound romantic, but in reality, you'll just end up hating all of your friends instead.
Save your phone battery Being stranded in an open field for a weekend will make you appreciate your phone more than ever. Nothing's more disheartening than having your phone die on you when there's selfies to be taken and lost friends to be tracked down. Most festivals have charging stations now, but they're notoriously overcrowded (and, not to mention, boring to stand at). First, turn off the features you aren't using. Turn off vibrations, notifications and location services if you aren't using them. Close apps that you aren't using. Dim your screen brightness. You can also consider purchasing a portable phone battery charger, or one of those snazzy cases that doubles as a charger. Think about getting a watch. Thankfully these bad boys are coming back in style, and are a handy alternative to using your phone as a clock. Print out a hard copy of the festival schedule and map ahead of time. Most festivals have apps now, but they’re a huge battery suck. A lot of the time the pamphlets they give out are way too thick to fit in a pocket. Just fold up two pieces of paper and you’re good to go.
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pick your festival Do you have to stay in Alberta?
YES
YES
Are you in it more for the music or for the camping and drugs? I wanna get #faded
Music
Are you down to camp?
No
Are you literally just going to get fucked up?
Action Bronson or Drake?
NORTH COUNTRY FAIR
Road trip or nah?
No
No
YES
YES
SLED ISLAND
St. Vincent and Father John Misty OR 50 mystery acts that you’ve never heard of?
No
No Drake
Do you want do drive all the way to B.C to do it?
Do you have more money than you know what to do with?
NXNE
Montreal OR NYC OR Chicago?
YES St.Vincent and Father John Misty
Action
YES
Mystery!
SHAMBHALA GLASTONBURY EDMONTON FOLK FEST
INTERSTELLAR RODEO
Montreal YES
Are you looking forward to attending Sonic Boom this year?
YES
No
No
NYC
Would you rather just do that in Edmonton?
No Stoned on a hill
squamish
Would you rather just see #deep midwestern bands or have a little more variety?
Huge-ass crowds
Variety Justin Vernon is my dad
Eaux Claires
No
Do you have a passport?
pemberton
Chi-town
Big crowds and flower crowns or chilling out, stoned a hill?
YES
sasquatch
osheaga
governor’s ball
lollapalooza
Which dad band would you rather see: AC/DC or Billy Joel?
coachella
AC/DC Billy Joel
bonnaroo
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A & C Editor Kieran Chrysler Email entertainment@gateway.ualberta.ca
March 25, 2015
Phone 780.492.6661 Twitter @chryslerrr
Volunteer Arts meetings every Wednesday at 4pm
social intercourse COMPILED BY Maggie Schmidt
All Day Shaker Part 1 The Artery (9535 Jasper Avenue) Saturday, Mar. 28 at 12 p.m. $20 at the door The Artery is tearfully closing its doors for the last time on Tuesday, March 31. To celebrate its wonderful life and to thank the community that has made the venue so iconic to Edmonton, they’re hosting a weekend-long bash. Food service will run from noon to 4 p.m. and a silent art auction will run the whole night. Local friends of the Artery, including The Noble Thiefs, Physical Copies, Billie Zizi, Motorbike James, and all of the other Edmonton bands that are actually worth listening to, will be playing live music all night.
All Day Shaker Part 2 The Artery (9535 Jasper Avenue) Sunday, Mar. 29 at 12 p.m. $20 at the door PHOTOG NAME
For anybody who didn’t party too hard the night before, part two of The Artery’s goodbye party has just as impressive of a lineup. The genius chefs at Sailin’ On Food Truck are catering in the afternoon, so come find out how flavorful vegan food can be. Along with tasty eats, The Fight, The Archaics, Sam the Living, Picture the Ocean and more are performing sets throughout the day, so come see some live music and be in bed for school at a reasonable time. It’s ones of your last chances to experience The Artery, so get out and live a little.
MOD Annual Showcase: Only Just Begun Myer Horowitz Theatre (SUB) Sunday, Mar. 29 at 4:30 p.m. $10 (ticketfly.com) If you haven’t had the fortune of seeing a performance by the student-run modern dance troupe, MOD, your life is not yet complete. Luckily, you have the chance to remedy that ineffiency by attending their fifth-annual end of the year showcase. The lobby is open at 4:30 p.m. with snacks and a silent auction open to keep you interested and raise some money, and the show starts at 5:30 p.m. Modern dance is expressive and cultured, so it’s a great date night idea as it’s bound to impress even the most cultured hottie. It’s not a bad study break either.
Christina Varvis
Edmonton carpentry crafts community Jon Zilinski
Arts & Culture Staff
Oliver Apt Continued from page 1
While their products look exclusive, you don’t have to be a restaurant owner or a high roller to be involved with the artisan carpenters. Accessibility is integral to Schedler’s vision of crafting in the community. Students on a budget can commission their own coffee table, nightstand or record shelf to fit within their budget. Or they can simply choose to relive their high school days with Oliver Apt.’s everpopular selection of gym-floor tables, made from old-school gymnasium hardwood. “We don’t just add our style to a project. We build it. We make it a reality,” Schedler says. For those wishing to have a hands-on experience in what Oliver Apt. is doing and why they’re doing it, there’s several opportunities for them to get involved and
go down to visit. Schedler has recently started running serving board workshops, where participants can create their own to share their space and knowledge with the community, and give back to their supporters. Schedler hopes to impart knowledge in a fun, informative process. “I want to show that not only can I build something, but I can give people the instruction and knowledge that goes with it. When you come in, we won’t send you home with ‘here’s step A, here’s step B, here’s product C’ but rather we will show you what you’re doing and why you’re doing it.” Of course, since building a serving board from scratch may not be for everyone. There’s more opportunities to go and hang out with their crew. The most appealing may just be “BB’s and Beers,” a weekly event where the community can visit the workshop and see what the artists have been working on
through the week. “We’ve always had a pretty open policy on sharing what we do — Fridays for us are usually spent opening up doors, you want to see what we’re doing, great, come on by, there’s no point keeping what we’re up to a secret — whether its a product or a project,” Schedler says. Whether you’re looking to add an unforgettable flair to your hip new restaurant, furnish your new home or dorm room, learn a new skill or hang out with friends, Oliver Apt. is a studio willing to put in the time in effort to help Edmontonians succeed with any of the above. “We enjoy what we do, we’re proud of the community and space that we’ve created around our business and we think it’s important to share that,” says Schedler. “I’ve grown to appreciate the knowledge I’ve gained over the years.”
Slamming Sexism// Illuminating Inequality Mercury Room (10575 114 Street) Sunday, Mar 29 at 7 p.m. $10 at the door It’s 2015 and everyday sexism still exists in Canada. Bring light to the gender inequalities that all sexes face with a night of improv groups and slam poetry. Expect to leave a better, more informed person since the welcoming atmosphere will foster conversation. The event is a project for Dr. Cristina Stasia’s WGS 201 class, so if you’re in that class it’s a requirement and you shouldn’t need a student newspaper to convince you to go anyway.
Spencer Nichols
Spencer Nichols
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brew crew
fashion streeters
written by Parker Ali
Sriracha Hot Stout Brewery: Rogue Ales,
with me!” — and I should have heeded my initial relation of the beer to unpalatable cooking sherry. Cooking with the Sriracha Hot Stout yields an unimpressive light pepper taste, and any complexity in the stout is entirely undetectable. The dark stout notes are tragic, as it’s clear something great has been squandered through the hot sauce novelty. The hard aftertaste hitting the roof of the mouth and the heavy-handed flavour profile do, however, carry a surprisingly low acidity. You won’t get the satisfying burn of Sriracha in your mouth, but you also won’t feel it burn an ulcer into your gut. Which feels like a bit of a cop-out to me. Rogue’s Sriracha Hot Stout challenges you to dare its flavour, and immediately punishes you for your hubris in believing it could possibly be good. Come on, what did you expect? The bottle is pretty, sure, but really? Hot sauce? In beer? Jesus.
Oregon, USA
Available at: Sherbrooke Liquor Store (11819 St. Albert Trail)
Rogue’s newest novelty beer is striking on the shelf. With red glass and a green cap, it’s styled after the iconic Sriracha hot sauce bottle. The intrigue of a hot sauceflavoured stout drew me in immediately. Could these flavours be the newest unlikely combination to sweep the world of craft beer and delight palettes across the nation? No. The answer is definitely no. With a distinct soy sauce aroma, the coffee-coloured head of the black stout is nauseating, and the reason why I would not recommend decanting. A swig straight from the bottle solved this problem, but the overpowering sense of drinking a bottle of stout with half a shaker of black pepper inside still remained. The liquor store where I purchased this bottle had affixed a label to the display — “try cooking
finer things written by
Maggie Schmidt
Tame Impala Tame Impala first placed themselves among psychadelic rock legends with their 2012 sophomore release Lonerism. Since then, the Australian-
based band has been found at music festivals all around the world, including an upcomiing appearance at this year’s Sasquatch festival. A few weeks ago, rumours of a new album were confirmed with the release of the single “Let It Happen.” The seven and
Vino Bitches As a university student, it’s nearly impossible to ever justify paying $16 for a 375ml bottle of booze. The rare occasion does open itself up, such as signing a lease for a new house the day before a big assignment is due. You want to celebrate, classily, without feeling compelled to get smashed. Enter: Michele Chiarlo Nivole Moscato D’Asti. It’s a mouthful, so you know it’s good wine. The label is simple, with a watercolour sunset printed on a textured crème paper. The only English words on the back label are “hand picked” and “contains sulfites,” which is either an invitation or a warning. The foil at the top of the bottle is hard to take off, so unfortunately this wine requires a glass to drink out of. After about 10 minutes of severely struggling with the corkscrew, I was able to open the bottle. Working hard for your wine is supposed to make it taste better, right? Nivole is mildly carbonated, somewhere between regular white wine and champagne, once again working in your favour to make you feel like you’ve got some extra cheddar in the bank account. It hasn’t got much of a smell and the only real flavour is an overwhelming sweetness. Obviously, because it was so expensive, you’re going to brag to your friends about how delicious it was anyway. Besides having a bit of carbonation, there isn’t anything keeping Nivole from being remarkably easy to chug. It’s light in flavour and comes in a small enough bottle that makes it a good candidate for a really fast and pretentious pre-game before hitting the bars or just for sitting down and cranking out assignments. Sometimes you want to knock back a two-litre plastic bottle of unspecified “white wine.” For the days when you’d prefer to be a bit classier, the Italian winemakers at Michele Chiarlo have got your back.
Price:
$14.99
Available at:
compiled & photographed by
DeVine Wines
Wine:
Rachel Lyon
Narin Shari Science II
a-half-minute-long song keeps all of the reverb and wandering guitar riffs that fans have come to love while introducing elements of pop and trance music. The result is a catchy hit that people from all musical backgrounds can appreciate. Assuming “Let It Happen” is an accurate reflection of the album to come, Tame Impala is about to prove their value in the psych music scene again.
Michele
Chiarlo
Nivole
Moscato D’Asti (2014)
Written by: Maggie Schmidt
gateway: Describe what you’re wearing. Shari: My scarf is from Zara, my bag is Marc Jacobs, my
shirt is from Forever 21, and my pants are from American Eagle. gateway: Are there any past fashion trends that you wish would make a comeback? Shari: Jean miniskirts, just the whole new millennium style really.
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Volume 105, Issue 30
Oumar Salifou
Doin’ You: French pressed coffee Mitchell Sorensen
Arts & culture staff @sonofamatichh If your ancient drip machine just isn’t doing it for you, and you think those who swear by pour-over are snobs, then stay tuned. A French press will give you a rich, delicious cup that leaves that weak swill behind in a triumph of glorious coffee. Plus “French Press” sounds sophisticated and cool and will impress your friends because you are obviously much more suave than them.
own). Set the grinder to the coarsest setting, or pulse a few times, until just ground. Keep the ratio of a heaping tablespoon of coffee to every cup of water. Step 3: Dump your fresh grind into the bottom of your clean press, then add your slightly cooled water (it should be a minute or so off the boil).
Step 1: Boil some water. Any old kettle will do.
Step 4: Depending on the size of your press pot, you may have to brew anywhere from three to five minutes. The four-cup setup pictured here brews for four minutes. Set a timer!
Step 2: After the water has boiled and has been taken off the heat, grind the beans (Yes, grind your
Step 5: Halfway through your brew, give it a stir. The foam on top will change colour, and this will make it
much easier to press later. If you feel the need to be a snob, you can call this “blooming” your brew. Step 6: Once the time is up, press the plunger and pour out immediately. The longer it sits in the pot, the likelier it is to be bitter. Step 7: Enjoy! Though do not, under any circumstances, drink the last sip. The sludge that winds up in the bottom of your cup tastes something like post-wildfire forest floor mixed with sand. Just don’t do it. Though it might be a little more difficult than waiting in line at Tim’s, it tastes way better and you’ll never end up with no sugar in your double-double.
Metro Cinema at the Garneau 8712 109 Street, Edmonton, AB 780 425 9212 | metrocinema.org Facebook.com/metrocinema | Pinterest.com/metrocinema Twitter & Instagram @themetrocinema
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night VAMPanorama
March 27 & 30 at 7:00 March 28, 29 & 31 at 9:30 April 4 at 4:45
Arash is a young punk with dreams that stretch beyond Bad City, a stateless, seemingly lawless town. Blocking his exit are Hossein, his dying, dependent junkie of a dad, and dangerous dealer, Saeed, who’s also a repellent misogynist and a pimp. Saeed gets his comeuppance, however, when he mistakes the Girl of the title for another pliable victim. Preying on men who take for granted the submissiveness of women, the Girl mobilizes her vampiric nature for her own brand of gender reformation. She’s disarmed, however, by Arash, a romantic who respects archaic Islamic codes of honour between men and women. A sly, slinky creeper set in an imaginary Iranian underworld, Amirpour’s debut feature blends elements of Lynchian neo-noir and spaghetti Western, but the film’s pointed, contemporary gender politics are very much its own.
The Dark Crystal Reel Family Cinema
March 28 at 2:00
As it was prophesied, the three suns have aligned for the first time in 1000 years. Finally the chance to find the missing shard of the Dark Crystal and end the chaotic rule of the evil Skekses has arrived. It is the tiny Gelfling, Jen, the last of his race eradicated by the cruelty of the Skekses, who sets out on the dangerous quest. When Jim Henson and Frank Oz decided to set their puppetry prowess to feature film production, they proved to be hugely imaginative purveyors of quirky fantasy mythos. The Dark Crystal has an ethereal alien quality to its startling visions, far removed from the Earth-bound contours of traditional fairy tales, yet still it succeeds as a dreamlike, children’s adventure. (Empire) Free Admission for Children 12 & Under!
METRO: The Gathering Where Magic and Movies Unite. Magic Card Event Begins at 12:30pm
Student Admission Evenings $9 Matinees $6
2014 Cannes Lions Awards: The World’s Best Commercials March 27 & 30 at 9:15 March 28 at 4:00 March 29 at 7:15 March 31 at 7:00 April 5 at 7:00
The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity Awards are some of the most prestigious honours in the advertising and communications industry. This annual compilation presents some of the world’s best commercials including a selection of the past year’s prizewinners. Given usually less than one minute, these commercials must quickly connect with audiences, whether by pulling their heartstrings, inspiring them, or making them laugh. After you accept that these were produced to sell you something, you can appreciate their persuasive creativity and the pure entertainment value of their big screen compilation. Presented by the Globe & Mail. Also on screen this week: My Mother’s Garden Rear Window His Girl Friday North by Northwest Gurukulam Blade Runner: The Final Cut
Visit metrocinema.org for full listings!
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Julia McGarvey
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What do you miss most about being a U of A student? What I really miss about being a U of A student is learning new things all the time. There is so much innovation and excitement all around that you are constantly feeling inspired and gaining new knowledge.
Best procrastination activity? There are too many to list … but walking across campus to get the Jacket Potato Man’s New York Chicken Salad at HUB has to be at the top. If you got one university do-over, what would it be? Getting more involved in extra curriculars. I spent most of my free time off campus and I wish I would have made more connections during my time there. Favourite secret makeout or study spot? Uhhh no makeouts for me, but I did love to study in the back corners of the Rutherford 4th floor. What did you do to help you stay sane during exam time? Sane? Who was sane during exam time? I mostly did really healthy things like stay up all night drinking Monster energy drinks and eating pizza. What impact has the U of A had on your life? Obviously without my degree I wouldn’t have the career and life that I’ve got today. Therefore, the U of A heavily impacted my life by providing me the stepping stones and confidence to take opportunities when they came up.
alumni.ualberta.ca/students
March 25, 2015
Studio Theatre toys with humanity theatre PREVIEW
A Dream Play WHEN
WHERE
Wednesday, March 26 until Saturday, April 4 Timms Centre for the Arts (87 Avenue)
written by August Strindberg DIRECTED BY Director’s name STARRING BFA Grad Class 2015 HOW MUCH $11 for students Holly Detilleux Arts & Culture Staff
Favourite campus memory? My favourite memories of campus are the late night group study sesh’s at SUB. Something about getting together with your fellow classmates, grabbing pizza and then quizzing each other until you were delirious.
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Christina Varvis
’11 BA
Current Occupation: Executive Director at Alberta’s Youth VOLUNTEER! Society
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The final show from the University of Alberta’s graduating BFA class is shining a light on the complexities of human life, from personal connections to spirituality. A Dream Play follows Agnes, the daughter of a god, as she explores the earth in an attempt to understand humanity. She tries to experience the many facets of real human life to find out why humanity is so discontent. “She’s like a voyeur with the best intentions, sort of like a tourist on earth,” explains Natalie Davidson, one of five actresses playing Agnes in the play. “She comes down and
wants to try to make everything better but she doesn’t have the full understanding of what the struggle is to be human, to be alive.” The choice to have five actresses play the main character lends some unexpected creative licence to the production. Each represents just a sliver of the whole of Agnes’ character, says Davison. “We (the actresses who play Agnes) are trying to preserve the different individual voices which are the different facets of Agnes,” Davison explains. “Being the daughter of a god, she is everything at once.” University of Alberta Drama professor, David Kennedy, directs this piece and brings more than 20 years of directorial experience to the Timms stage. The play itself is more than 100 years old, originally penned by the famous playwright August Strindberg. Though the play is old, Kennedy says it is still relevant today since it explores timeless concepts, from the complexities of human relationships to the meaning of life and spirituality. “I think it’s still relevant because the things that these characters are dealing with and the things Strindberg’s investigating are in a way, not topical at all,” says Kennedy. “From generation to generation … we all
pursue some measure of joy but we also, to one degree or another, experiment (with) some sadness.” An additional surprise to the audience of this play will no doubt come from the unusual use of space at the Timms Centre. Instead of having the audience in the usual seating, they will be sitting in the backstage. This immersive set up allows the audience and actors to be on level plane with one another. The dreamy quality of this piece of theatre is a staple. It mixes moments of realism with surreal settings and situations to make Agnes’ experiences both otherworldly and relatable at once. “We’re sharing this dream with you and you can come on the journey with us,” says Davidson. “You, the audience member, are representative of the dreamer.” A Dream Play sounds like a complex piece of theatre, but the play simply aims to provide a truthful gaze at humanity that does not ignore its struggles. “It’s not saying existence isn’t extraordinary, beautiful and profound,” Kennedy says. “It’s acknowledging the fact that despite it being all those things. Life can be an incredibly powerful and painful experience for people.”
ALBUM REVIEW
Action Bronson Mr. Wonderful Vice Records actionbronson.com
Mitchell Sorensen
Arts & culture Writer @sonofamitchh Action Bronson has a pretty sweet existence, and his debut album Mr. Wonderful makes sure you know. By the time the curtains close on “Easy Rider,” you’re left with a crystal clear image of Bronson’s 5’9”, 320lb frame cruising off into the sunset, customized cape in hand, cackling maniacally at what he’s made. A clinic in braggadocio idiomstringing, Action Bronson shows and proves with an all-star production team. Mark Ronson, Alchemist, and Party Supplies join a long list of collaborators that complement Bronson at every turn. Showing off his penchant for
‘80s pop and psychedelia, samples range from Billy Joel to gospel and back again. In the current climate of chopped and screwed trap beats with lyrics drawled or screamed over them, Action’s mix of ganja-hazed crooning and verses that seem to drip like bone marrow off rosemary toast (one of his favourites) are a welcome reprieve. No, he doesn’t sound like Ghostface or Kool G Rap — he’s more than that. The sounds of his beloved neighbourhood, Flushing, are taken to the world, crafted into simultaneously nostalgic and original beats, and layered with rhymes so ridiculous they could
only come from Queens. Many in the game can’t pull off the level of pure awesomeness Bronson imbues into every track. At the same time, the incessant self-love never seems out of place, or even unpleasant. You can genuinely imagine him “speaking six languages in three different voices,” as ridiculous as it might sound. The level of genuineness achieved by such fictionalsounding lyrics boggles the mind, and perfectly complements the lush production. Bronson has now settled comfortably into the knowledge that he has created his own niche. Mr. Wonderful serves as a coming out party, after years in the mixtape game, he is here to stay. The Blue Chips cycle may have introduced him to the world, but Mr. Wonderful blasts Bronson into the stratosphere. At the same time, he genuinely doesn’t give a flying fuck what you think, and on Mr. Wonderful he makes sure you know it.
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Volume 105, Issue 30
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Which movies could use a sequel? Arts & Culture Staff
group commentary
Sometimes Hollywood makes us weep by making sequels to movies that don’t need them, like Ghostbusters or Grease. But we would all be a lot happier if these stellar films had a “part two.”
Kate Black The world deserves a sequel to the Shrek franchise after the colossal disappointment which was Shrek 4. Okay, I never actually saw Shrek 4. My existential fatigue after watching Shrek become a father in the third instalment of the series was too much for me to handle. I miss our badass, onion-eating green ogrelord. Bring back angry Shrek. Bring back Smashmouth. Shrek is love. Shrek is life.
Parker Ali There’s a sequel I can only hope is being developed under great wraps, as I have heard nothing of its progress or release of late. Mel Gibson’s 2004 Passion of the Christ leaves us on the painful cliff-hanger ending of the messiah’s return from the dead. The thrilling sequel, possibly titled The Passioner, would follow JC on his trip to kick the collective asses of the Pharisees for handing him over to Pilate. Gibson could make
ALBUM REVIEW
a total 180 with his trainwreck of a career with an entirely new spin on the franchise. A departure from the canonical second coming could be revamped with sweet new Jesus powers, the Son of God takes a second shot at Satan. The Passion of the Christ 2: The Passioner.
Zach Borutski There are kids attending university currently that were born after Space Jam was released. Let that sink in for a second. After you’re done being shocked and appalled, let me name the movie that demands a sequel, and it’s most definitely Space Jam. It just makes sense — many people are already comparing Lebron James to Michael Jordan, so the role of lead basketball player can already be filled. While we have the current version of Michael Jordan, we also need the current version of Bill Murray, which is Bill Murray. With the two most important human roles cast, it’s the perfect time to talk about how awesome Loony Tunes is. A sequel to Space Jam would be a perfect opportunity to introduce an entire lost generation to some of the best cartoon characters of all time: Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and everyone’s favorite, Elmer Fudd. Space Jam 2 wouldn’t just be a sequel, it would be a cultural milestone, so make it Hollywood, and watch the world change as a result.
Michael Vecchio The genius of writer/director John Hughes provided the world with an ample supply of memorable and
Kendrick Lamar To Pimp A Butterfly
Top Dawg/Aftermath Interscope Records kendricklamar.com Mitchell Sorensen
arts & culture staff @sonofamitchh There is no single artist who is advancing hip hop like Kendrick Lamar, period. Drake has stagnated in his late-night-text apology rap, Kanye is obsessed with God, and Jay hasn’t dropped anything close to a landmark album in 10 years. good kid, m.A.A.d. city shot the bar for rap albums into the stratosphere, Control reinvigorated the game, and To Pimp a Butterfly obliterated every expectation of what can be done in the genre. From the outset, the arrangement and production on Butterfly is chaotically beautiful. Thundercat, Flying Lotus, and Sounwave
head a cohort of producers that succeed on every track. Beats are layered with mind-boggling levels of syncopation, but somehow complement Kendrick’s slightly manic style perfectly. Elements of funk, ‘90s West Coast rap, and jazz combine in a way that perfectly complements the album style and content. This album creates an image of a man depressed and downtrodden. Someone who had “opened up Pandora’s Box” and didn’t know if it was for the right reasons. Someone who got out the hood but left a piece of himself behind.
funny coming-of-age stories, but if there is one that warranted a sequel the most it is undoubtedly the classic Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Since its release nearly everyone has falling under the charm of Ferris and the possibilities for a sequel would have been plentiful. Does Ferris go to college? Marry his girlfriend Sloane? What happened to best friend Cam and is his jealous sister Jeanie still out to bring him down? Chronicling just one day in the life of the titular hero left most of us wanting more. A sequel wouldn’t just answer the aforementioned questions, but lead us on to the next series of adventures the young Ferris could conjure. If sending the inept school principal Rooney on a goose chase was amusing, imagine if we saw it happen with a college professor or dean. Or perhaps seeing an older version of Ferris could be equally entertaining: married with kids, skipping work for a day and having his boss on his tail while his sister, the professional, still fumes at being the only responsible one. The film still stands as a modern classic and we should all be glad that even if a sequel never happened the original continues to exist and entertain us all.
Cam Lewis I really liked the movie Toy Story. I figure they should go and make a second one that’s arguably better than the first. A decade later, they should make a third that reminds me of my childhood and hits me really hard right in the feels. Don’t make a fourth, though, that would be overkill.
By the time you listen through 14 tracks of this guilt and self-loathing, “i” comes on like a wave of relief. An anthem to self-love and revelry in accepting himself, Kendrick seems to have finally begun to come to terms with who he is. That being said, if you must only listen to one track on the album, make it “Hood Politics.” This is Kendrick at his very best. Shadethrowing for the good of his art, making sure the people know that if they cared about real rapping “Killer Mike would be platinum.” It’s like Control part two, with Kendrick making sure that the games stays on its toes. Though he seems more accepting of himself, there is a big middle finger to success that pervades Butterfly, and the result is a darkly glorious look at an artist conflicted. This album succeeds on every level, and makes sure the world knows that Kendrick remains, first and foremost, unrelentingly real.
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sports 22
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Curling teams make program history with double CIS gold Cam Lewis
was just a matter of them actually doing it.” The Bears and Pandas almost had a perfect tournament, going 13-1 in the round robin and 4-0 in the playoffs. The Bears finished the round robin with a perfect 7-0 record, while the Pandas finished 6-1 with their only loss coming to Thompson Rivers
sports editor @cooom
on Wednesday. Both the Bears and Pandas handled their semifinal matches on Saturday morning with ease, as the Bears took down the Winnipeg Wesmen 7-1 and the Pandas defeated Laurier 6-2. The Bears, led by skip Thomas Scoffin, put a cap on their dominant tournament on Saturday night when
in the tenth end that gave her team its historic victory. Krepps said Rocque’s performance was a perfect ribbon on a successful season. “Kelsey Rocque was outstanding,” he said. “She’s had a pretty special run already this year, but I know that winning CIS nationals was something that was very important to her because the Pandas had been silver medalists the last two seasons.” Krepps also acknowledged the importance of the leadership of two of the team’s fifth-year veterans — Alison Kotylak and Evan Asmussen — to the team’s success. “You try to have a range of athletes in your program and I think they start to become a tightly knit group,” he said. “They know it’s Evan and Alison’s chance to win a gold medal, and as much as they want to do it for themselves, they want to do it for those veteran leaders as well.” While the championships are incredibly exciting for the program, Krepps said he woke up this morning already planning on how the team is going to do it again next year. “My focus has been entirely on helping our athletes realize their dreams, so from that standpoint it’s very gratifying,” he said. “When I woke up this morning, I was thinking about what we had to do to pull this off again next year.” adam gagnon
they defeated Laurier in their home rink by a score of 6-4. The Pandas, on the other hand, had a chance at redemption against Trinity Western. After falling behind 5-3 after six ends, skip Kelsey Rocque stunned the WolfPack with a remarkable seventh end to take a 7-5 lead. Rocque cemented the 8-6 win with a hammer
The University of Alberta curling program made history last weekend in Waterloo. For the first time, both the Golden Bears and Pandas took home CIS gold medals in curling. The Pandas’ 8-6 victory over the Trinity Western Wolfpack on Saturday cemented the program’s first win in its history, while the Bears’ 6-4 win over the host Laurier Golden Hawks was their first championship since 2012. Bears and Pandas curling head coach Rob Krepps said watching his team perform the way it did was a dream come true. “It was pretty much a dream weekend,” he said. “Both of our teams performed so well and both teams really came to play in the final and they weren’t going to be denied. It was a pleasure to be there and watch it all unfold.” Although he knew that both of his teams were capable of winning, Krepps said it’s impossible to expect both teams to come in and win gold medals — making the result even more incredible. “I don’t think you can ever expect to win two national championships but we certainly felt that it was possible,” he said. “We knew our teams had it in them to play at the level that would be required, so it double double Both Bears and Pandas curling teams won CIS gold in Waterloo last weekend.
CIS Men’s and Women’s Curling Championship Scores
Round Robin Records 7-0
Semifinals 7-1
Finals 6-4
6-1
6-2
8-6
Fencing Club uses sport as a way to stay in shape and blow off steam Cam Lewis
sports editor @cooom If you’re looking for a way to vent your stress come exam season, you should take up fencing. Apparently nothing beats hitting somebody with a sword. At least that’s how the University of Alberta’s Fencing Club President Cameron Griffiths explained it. “It’s a really, really good way to stay fit and kind of blow off some steam,” he said when asked what he liked most about the sport. Chelsea Butler, a veteran member of the club echoed Griffiths’ sentiments. “It’s a great workout, it’s a lot of fun, you get to meet a lot of really cool, quirky people,” she said. “It’s also a really good outlet for any anger and it’s great for getting rid of any problems or issues, just get it out there and fence.” While that might sound intimidating, both Griffiths and Butler said that injuries aren’t a common occurrence. “You can get hit in the head, but because of the mask it doesn’t hurt at all,” Butler said. “The most tender spot
is in the shoulder blade area, but even then it still doesn’t hurt that much because you have so much equipment. “You kinda just get used to it.” There’s a lot more to the game than just hitting another person with a sword, Griffiths explained. The sport involves both physical and mental focus, as both combatants battle to be one step ahead of their opponent both physically and mentally.
“It’s a really, really good way to stay fit and kind of blow off some steam.” Cameron griffiths u of a fencing club
The strategy involved can be compared to chess, in a way, Griffiths said. “You have to have your body exactly where you want it, and your opponent is trying to plan at the same time,” he said. “It’s not only you being the better athlete but you playing to your
opponent’s weaknesses.” The club just hosted the annual Wetterberg Open on Sunday, which is a provincial fencing tournament that’s been going on over 40 years. The Wetterberg is the club’s marquee event, and it attracted more than 50 people from around the province, including one fencer from Saskatchewan, to participate in events geared towards fencers of different ages and experience levels. Like the Wetterberg Open, the Fencing Club is open to anybody — both students and members of the community — who are interested in fencing, regardless of skill or experience. Griffiths said he joined the club in his third year at the U of A without any prior history in the sport. “To be honest, I went and looked through the activity guide when I was in my third year,” he said. “Usually, the story is usually like mine. Some have fenced previously and they come and find out that we have a fencing club and join that way, but a large majority are people who just want to try it out.”
en garde! Fencing is described as “physical chess.”
ron sechyna
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sports 23
Volume 105, Issue 30
Bears football coach discusses CFL combine, life after sports Richard Catangay-Liew news editor @richardcliew
While the allure of suiting up for a Canadian Football League squad may be a dream for university athletes, Chris Morris emphasized that pro football should not be an “ultimate destination.” The regional CFL Draft combine on Monday welcomed Golden Bears linebackers Connor Ralph and Tom Tsoumpas, wide receiver Yembeh Moiba and offensive lineman Scott Ledieu to a field of athletes competing for an invite to the national combine this weekend in Toronto. After deliberation between CFL head coaches and scouts, only four athletes from a field of 43 were invited to the national combine, with no Bears football players being selected. Morris, who played for the CFL’s Edmonton Eskimos from 1992 to 2005, knows what it takes to play pro pigskin. He also knows how “heartless” the game can be. “Football doesn’t look after anybody,” Morris said. “At some point it just throws people away. At some point, you have to be
prepared for when that happens.” Ralph, who led the Canada West in tackles (61.5), tackles per game (7.7) while finishing third in sacks (three), finished first at the combine in shuttle (4.44 seconds) and 3-cone (7.06 seconds) and third in bench (27 reps) among linebackers.
“Football doesn’t look after anybody. At some point it just throws people away.” Chris morris
bears football head coach
With one year of varsity eligibility left, Ralph said he’s looking forward to returning to the U of A for his last season despite not earning a national invite. “I won’t really think about it too much,” Ralph said of his CFL prospects. “I did alright. I could’ve done better, but I gave it my all, though. “Hopefully a team likes you enough to draft you still. If
something happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t.” Tsoumpas bested Ralph’s bench (28 reps) while registering the third-best shuttle time (4.53 seconds) and fifth-best 3-cond time (7.47 seconds) among linebackers. However, Tsoumpas finished last in 40-yard dash (5.15 seconds) and vertical leap (31 inches). Among offensive linemen, Ledieu finished fifth in the 40yard dash (5.96 seconds) and sixth in shuttle time (5.21 seconds) and 3-cone (9.21 seconds). Also representing the Bears offense, Moiba, a Track & Field varsity team member, finished first among wide receivers in the 40-yard dash (4.65 seconds), while tying for fourth in bench (17 reps) at the position and third in broad jump (10 feet). While testing well metrically, Moiba said he was pleased with his route running, as he broke free from Okanagan Sun cornerback and national combine invitee Dexter Janke for a deep catch in the one-on-one drills. “Overall, I was happy with it,” Moiba said of his performance at the combine. “I came in here and
did everything I had to do. I tested well, and I’m happy with it.” Morris was the first person that told Moiba he has the ability to play in the CFL, he said, and he used that as motivation in the two years with Morris at the helm. Moiba said he’d still like to pursue football and get a call from a CFL team down the road, but for how he’s focused on graduating from the U of A with a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing this April with a couple job offers on the table.
“I came here and did everything I had to do. I tested well and I’m happy with it.” yembeh moiba
bears football wide reciever
Moiba added that Morris “changed the culture” of the program, instilling a “family first, academics second and football third” philosophy into the locker room, and because of that, is grateful to have a backup plan in
case his football career is over. Morris, who was selected in the first round of the 1992 CFL draft by the Edmonton Eskimos, won three Grey Cups as an offensive lineman. But “all it takes is one hit” for a promising gridiron career to be over. “Football is a great thing to attract young men and it’s a great thing for young men to be associated with, insofar as it’s a vehicle for people to learn a little about teamwork and discipline,” Morris said of life beyond football. “No matter how talented you are, it’s going to end at some point.” But while Morris has stressed to the locker room how the CFL route is a combative environment, he acknowledges that the four Golden Bears players still have professional football in their sights. His advice? Don’t stop competing. “Anything you want to do, be the very best at it,” Morris said. “Try and be the best guy there, and compete that way. Not for a split second doubt your ability. “They will all learn from that. Everything you do in this journey will give you lessons.”
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sports 24
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The winners and losers of NFL free agency Jason Shergill sports staff
THREE UP Miami Dolphins: With a free agency pool packed with stars, Miami managed to nab the biggest one, signing defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh to a six-year, $114 million contract. While many may see it risky giving a player with Suh’s attitude problems a contract that lucrative, his on-field performance more than justifies the money. Save for Darrelle Revis, no other free agent this year has the power to singlehandedly transform a defence the way Suh can, and at age 28, he’s right in the prime of his career. For a team that finished last year at 8-8, Miami is hoping that their newly acquired star will be enough to get them into the playoffs in 2015. Seattle Seahawks: For a team that has gone 25-7, gone to two Super Bowls and won one of them over the past two years, it’s pretty hard to find areas that Seattle could improve upon. Of course, the same front office that created this juggernaut managed to add to it, this time by trading away centre Max Unger and a first-round pick
to the New Orleans Saints for star tight end Jimmy Graham. Seattle was weak on receivers last season, but the addition of Graham should instrumentally help their passing game and the maturation of quarterback Russell Wilson. Buffalo Bills: The hiring of coach Rex Ryan will immediately improve an already stellar defence, as well as give the franchise a confidence and swagger that they have sorely lacked for years. Ryan brought wide reciever Percy Harvin with him from his former team, the New York Jets, and the Bills have quickly snagged running back LeSean McCoy and quarterback Matt Cassel in trades with Philadelphia and Minnesota respectively, as well as signing tight end Charles Clay. While Cassel likely isn’t a long-term solution as quarterback, he’s stocked with newly acquired offensive weapons, while rookie wide receiver Sammy Watkins is more than ready to improve upon his impressive first season. Going 9-7 last year, Buffalo seemed to just need a nudge in the right direction for a playoff bid this year. With the moves they made, right now it seems like the Bills got exactly what they needed.
THREE DOWN San Francisco 49ers: It seems that the 49ers’ fall from contention isn’t over. After missing the playoffs for the first time in four years, the organization parted ways with coach Jim Harbaugh, lost longtime running back Frank Gore to the Indianapolis Colts and watched defensive linchpin Patrick Willis retire. To make matters worse, Willis’ replacement, Chris Borland, controversially retired over brain injury concerns after just a single year in the NFL. With those departures, as well as losing other mainstays like Mike Iupati and Chris Culliver, this team is bound to look completely different from the team that made three straight conference championship games from 2012 to the 2014 playoffs. Denver Broncos: With Peyton Manning’s recent injury problems, the Broncos’ outlook for next season couldn’t have been too positive. By losing one of his favourite targets in Julius Thomas, things seem to look even worse. While recently hired head coach Gary Kubiak brought Owen Daniels with him from Baltimore as a replacement, it remains to be
seen whether Manning can find the same chemistry as he did with Thomas that led to consecutive double-digit touchdown seasons for the tight end. While franchise tagging star receiver Demaryius Thomas will keep the offence close enough to where it was last year, the losses of Terrance Knighton and Rahim Moore will definitely hurt the Broncos’ defence in 2015. Baltimore Ravens: NFL free agency started with a flurry of unexpected trades, which made the Ravens loss of defensive tackle Haloti Ngata to Detroit fall under the radar. Ngata, while to a lesser extent, was an anchor to Baltimore’s Super Bowl-winning defence in 2012 alongside future hall of famers Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. Now just three offseasons later, all three are gone, and a total of one starter of that championship defence remains. On the offensive side, the Ravens lost aforementioned offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, along with tight end Owen Daniels and wide receiver Torrey Smith, leaving quarterback Joe Flacco with an aging Steve Smith as his only reliable passing option.
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sports 25
Volume 105, Issue 30
Remembering legend Steve Nash Nikki Kielkowicz sports writer
When you think about the odds, the “Steve Nash story” probably shouldn’t have ever happened. Honestly, it’s mind-blowing. A skinny Canadian boy, born in South Africa, who pursued soccer and lacrosse religiously — and likely would have made it to some professional level — made friends in the eighth grade who introduced him to basketball. He then decided to pursue the NBA dream even though no scouts were interested in watching him play. He was rejected by 30 American colleges before being accepted into a mediocre Div-1 NCAA program, the Santa Clara Broncos. There, he stunned the nation enough to be picked 15th overall in 1996 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns. The rest is history, as he went on to win back-to-back MVP awards in 2005 and 2006 — cementing him as a surefire Hall of Famer. Even though it was a time bomb waiting to go off, the news of Steve Nash’s retirement was heartbreaking. As a kid growing up in British Columbia, I was enrolled
in the Steve Nash Youth Basketball program. At the time, I couldn’t care less who Steve Nash was. As I fell more in love with the game, I started to look up to the 6’3” underdog who grew up close to home. Watching him play was thrilling. The no-look and behind-the-back passes, quick ball-handling, sevenseconds-or-less scoring — it was a style of play that didn’t let you keep still. Basketball players everywhere tried to keep up with Nash’s fastpaced game. While succeeding on the court, Nash also managed to be a winner off of the court. Most are familiar with his stats: two-time Most Valuable Player, eight-time NBA All-Star, best free throw shooter, etc. However, only a few are aware of Nash’s humble nature and humanitarian achievements. Nash has invested his time in advocating for renewable energy, improving health and education for underprivileged children through the Steve Nash Foundation, managing the Vancouver Whitecaps Major League Soccer club, and maintaining a filmmaking hobby on the side. Seriously, coolest guy ever. It’s hard to describe the impact
Steve Nash has had on me. Whether it was his home arena of 19,000 in Vancouver booing him in his rookie years when the Suns took on the Grizzlies, playing with a bloody nose, hitting three pointers with a swollen shut eye, or having permanent nerve damage that he felt with every dribble, Nash never wavered away from his goals. It’s this perseverance, while maintaining a humble humour, which makes Steve Nash a great role model for kids, and continues to help me overcome any challenges. Thank you, Steve, for the late night basketball games that were so electrifying, for making me watch game highlights when I should have been studying, for inspiring me to get more involved with charity work, be more aware of environmental issues, for the thrill of trying to run beside you during the Vancouver Olympic Torch Relay and for reminding us why we love the game so much. My story is just one of millions. I didn’t become famous, make the WNBA, or even play in university, but like so many, Nash has managed to affect me in more ways than one. On the behalf of many, thank you.
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Booing makes you look like an idiot Kobe Amoh sports writer
Soccer is arguably the world’s biggest sport. Everyone knows the big names, Messi, Ronaldo, and Rooney have cemented themselves as icons in the game, while Neymar, Götze, James, and Sterling are among the next generation that are sure to steal hearts and goals at future tournaments. For all of soccer’s beauty, the ugly side of the game is too often expressed by the fans. Sure, rivalries between clubs might spill out into the occasional bar brawl, and bad calls might leave one set of fans sour until the next match day. But as a whole, the players are able to forget and put things behind them. Sadly, for some fans, player abuse is as much a part of the game as highprofile sponsorships and playersturned-models. Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale is the latest player to be subject to this kind of abuse. Madrid bought the Welsh international for a reported £85 million, beating the record set by teammate Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009 for £80 million. If anyone questioned Bale’s purchase, they weren’t doubting it by the end of the 2014 season. The Welshman was instrumental to the club’s victories
in 2014. He scored in his team debut and rounded the season off with 20 goals and 16 assists in 44 appearances. The season also saw an incredible goal against league rivals F.C. Barçelona. Bale began his run with the ball in Madrid’s half and ran it into the Barça half, but after being fouled out of play by a Barçelona defender, he ran back into play and past the defender, finishing his surging run by placing the ball into Barçelona’s goal to secure Madrid with La Decima, their 10th Champions League win. You’d assume that by now, Madrid fans would have eased up on Bale, welcoming him into the fold, yet the 2014 season has had Bale booed by Madrid fans at multiple games. While some would argue that this kind of “criticism” is expected, the abuse has been so vehement towards Bale that pundits and former players have chimed in, most famously David Beckham — who also played for Real Madrid from 2003-2007. For me, booing a player is unnecessary and incredibly childish. In the case of Bale, it’s not like he’s a Diego Costa or Luis Suarez — players that, while notoriously good, are also known for their occasionally thuggish performances on the pitch. The Welshman has put in effort and seems to genuinely try his best in matches, but in this past season,
his best hasn’t been enough for the Madridistas. For fans who measure games by wins and titles, if you’re not scoring goals, you’d better be setting them up. And if you’re not setting them up, then what good are you? Perhaps it’s a difference in culture that’s to blame. Some Madrid fans, while sympathetic to Bale, have blamed the jeers on tough love. Real Madrid is a club that’s notorious for buying the world’s best players for expensive prices, Zidane, Raul, Ronaldo, and Beckham have all played on the team and helped the club win big silverware and trophies. To play at Real Madrid is accepting that history and that pressure, and it’s true that Bale should have considered this when accepting the transfer. Play good, and the fans support you, but play poorly? They’ll rip you apart. At the end of the day, I stand with Bale. He’s one of my favourite players, and I’m stoked on seeing what he does, whether at Madrid or elsewhere. But as a fan, if you’re looking to show support for your team and generally improve your position around the world, it’s not by booing your own players. It’s about standing with them and showing support for them in the good and bad times. It’s ride or die, Clive, and that’s what Bale needs right now.
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